Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
Name	Brooks & Dunn
Landscape	Yes
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Tulsa, Oklahoma, USAShreveport, Louisiana, USA
Genre	Country
Years active	1990-2010
Label	Arista Nashville
Website	Brooks-Dunn.com
Past members	Kix BrooksRonnie Dunn
Associated acts	Don CookScott HendricksReba McEntire }}

Brooks & Dunn were an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists. Brooks wrote songs for John Conlee, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Highway 101 and released a solo album for Capitol Records; both he and Dunn also charted two solo singles apiece in the 1980s.

Signed to Arista Records in 1991, the duo recorded ten studio albums, one Christmas album and three compilation albums for the label. They also released fifty singles, of which twenty went to number one on the Hot Country Songs charts and nineteen more reached top ten. Two of these number-one songs, "My Maria" (a cover of the B.W. Stevenson song) and "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You", were the top country songs of 1996 and 2001, respectively, according to the Billboard Year-End charts. The latter is also the duo's longest-lasting number one, at six weeks. Several of their songs have also reached the Billboard Hot 100, where the duo's highest peaks are "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" and "Red Dirt Road", both at number 25. Brooks & Dunn also won the Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000. Two of Brooks & Dunn's songs also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: "Hard Workin' Man" in 1993 and "My Maria" in 1996. All but two of the duo's studio albums are certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Their highest-certified is their 1991 debut ''Brand New Man'', which is certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million copies.

The duo announced their retirement in August 2009 and performed their final concert on September 2, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Brooks has been the host of the radio show ''American Country Countdown'' since 2006, while Dunn has continued to record for Arista as a solo artist.

History

Leon Eric "Kix" Brooks III was born May 12, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and before moving to Nashville in 1979, he worked the club circuit in Alaska and Maine. He was also a neighbor of country singer Johnny Horton. Brooks worked as a songwriter in the 1980s, co-writing the number-one singles "I'm Only in It for the Love" by John Conlee, "Modern Day Romance" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and "Who's Lonely Now" by Highway 101. He also released several singles through the independent Avion label, including "Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down", which charted at number 73 on Hot Country Songs in 1983. In 1989, he released a self-titled studio album through Capitol Records. This album included his second and final solo chart entry, "Sacred Ground", which peaked at number 87 and was later a number two hit in 1992 for McBride & the Ride.

Ronnie Gene Dunn was born June 1, 1953 in Coleman, Texas. He played bass guitar in local bands during high school and he briefly studied theology at Abilene Christian University with the intention of becoming a Baptist preacher. Dunn was "kicked out" of the school because he played in bars. Dunn recorded for the Churchill label between 1983 and 1984, and reached number 59 with "It's Written All Over Your Face" and "She Put the Sad in All His Songs". In 1989, session drummer Jamie Oldaker entered Dunn in a talent contest sponsored by Marlboro, which Dunn won. The grand prize in the competition included a recording session in Nashville. The producer of that session, Scott Hendricks, recommended Dunn's recordings to Tim DuBois, then an executive of Arista Records. DuBois paired Brooks and Dunn because he thought that they would work well together as songwriters, and after the two recorded a demo, he suggested that they form a duo.

Musical career

1991–1992: ''Brand New Man''

The duo's first single, "Brand New Man", entered the Hot Country Songs charts in June 1991 and went to number one. It was the title track to the duo's debut album, ''Brand New Man'', which was released two months later. Brooks and Dunn wrote this song and several other cuts in collaboration with Don Cook, who also co-produced the album with Hendricks. The next three single releases from ''Brand New Man'' ("My Next Broken Heart", "Neon Moon" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie") all made number one on the country music charts as well, making for the first time in country music history that a duo or group had sent its first four singles to the top of the charts. A fifth single, "Lost and Found", peaked at number six. "Boot Scootin' Boogie", which had previously been the b-side to "My Next Broken Heart", also made number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its commercial success led to a renewed interest in line dancing throughout the United States. ''Brand New Man'' was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August 1992 for shipments of one million copies; by 2002, the album had been certified sextuple-platinum for shipments of six million. The album also spent more than 190 weeks on the Top Country Albums charts. In 1992, the duo won the Duo of the Year Award from the Country Music Association (CMA), which also nominated them for that year's Album of the Year and Horizon awards. Brooks & Dunn won the association's Duo award for every year from then until 2006, except for 2000 when the award went to Montgomery Gentry. After the album's release, Brooks & Dunn began touring as well.

''Brand New Man'' received a positive review from Allmusic, whose critic Daniel Gioffre thought that the album showed the duo's diversity of musical influences. Alanna Nash of ''Entertainment Weekly'' was less positive, criticizing the duo's sound for being "imitative".

1992–1994: ''Hard Workin' Man''

''Hard Workin' Man'' was the title of Brooks & Dunn's second album. Released in 1993, it was led off by its title track, which peaked at number four on the country music charts. The album included two number-one singles in "She Used to Be Mine" and "That Ain't No Way to Go" (respectively the third and fifth releases), as well as "We'll Burn That Bridge" and "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)", the former of which went to number one at ''Radio & Records''. In 1993, "Hard Workin' Man" won the duo a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and the album was nominated for Best Country Album. ''Hard Workin' Man'' earned its highest RIAA certification in 2002, when it was certified quintuple platinum. Brian Mansfield gave a generally-positive review in Allmusic, saying that its up-tempo songs "rocked harder" than any of the songs from the first album.

While "Rock My World" was climbing the charts, Brooks & Dunn charted two additional cuts which were not official singles: "Ride 'em High, Ride 'em Low", which they contributed to the soundtrack of the 1994 film ''8 Seconds'', and a cover of "Corrine, Corrina" recorded in collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel for a tribute album to Bob Wills. Both of these cuts peaked at number 73. Dunn also contributed a guest vocal to Lee Roy Parnell's mid-1994 cover of the Hank Williams song "Take These Chains from My Heart", which was a single from Parnell's album ''On the Road''. Dunn did not receive a chart credit for this song.

''Waitin' on Sundown''

In early September 1994, the duo collaborated with Johnny Cash on a cover of his song "Folsom Prison Blues". This cover appeared on the album ''Red Hot + Country'', a charity album made by the Red Hot Organization to benefit AIDS awareness. By the end of the month, the duo released its third studio album, ''Waitin' on Sundown''. It also produced five charting singles, three of which made number one on the country charts: "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind", "Little Miss Honky Tonk" and "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone". The other two singles, "I'll Never Forgive My Heart" and "Whiskey Under the Bridge", both made top ten.

Allmusic critic Thom Owens thought that the album's singles were "solid" but that the rest of the songs were "filler". A review of the single "She's Not the Cheatin' Kind" from the same site praised it for its "hard-driving, honky-tonk spirit". Nash praised the honky-tonk sound of "I'll Never Forgive My Heart", but thought that most of the other songs relied on "contrivance". Randy Lewis of the ''Orlando Sentinel'' gave a generally-positive review, saying that the "minidrama" of "A Few Good Rides Away" (which Brooks co-wrote) was the strongest track on the album.

''Borderline''

Brooks & Dunn's fourth album, ''Borderline'', was also their first for Arista Nashville as opposed to the main division of Arista. It was led off by a cover version of B.W. Stevenson's 1972 single "My Maria". Brooks & Dunn's version of the song spent three weeks at number one in mid-1996 and peaked at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was also that year's top country song according to the Billboard Year-End charts. Dunn said that he was initially reluctant to cover "My Maria" because the duo had not previously recorded any cover songs. The song won Brooks & Dunn its second Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo, and the duo won the 1996 Entertainer of the Year award from the Country Music Association. In 1997, the duo toured a double-headliner tour with Reba McEntire. ''Borderline'' produced another number one in "A Man This Lonely" and the top ten hits "I Am That Man" and "Why Would I Say Goodbye"; "Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing", the third single, became the duo's first release not to make the top ten.

Michael McCall of Allmusic and Alanna Nash of ''Entertainment Weekly'' both thought that the album's material was "cliché", and thought that the "My Maria" was the strongest song on it. A more positive review came from Larry Stephens of ''Country Standard Time'', who thought that the album had "the right mix" of songs.

''The Greatest Hits Collection'' and ''If You See Her''

Their first greatest hits compilation was released on September 16, 1997. It comprised most of their singles to that point and three new songs: "Honky Tonk Truth", "He's Got You" and "Days of Thunder". The first two were released as singles, with respective peaks of three and two on the country charts. ''The Greatest Hits Collection'' was certified platinum in April 1998, and double-platinum in 2001.

Brooks & Dunn collaborated with Reba McEntire to perform "If You See Him/If You See Her", which was the lead-off single to Brooks & Dunn's ''If You See Her'' and McEntire's ''If You See Him'', both of which were released on the same day. Arista and MCA Nashville, the label to which McEntire was signed, both promoted the single. This cut went to number one, as did the next two singles from ''If You See Her'': "How Long Gone" and a cover of Roger Miller's "Husbands and Wives", which also became the duo's first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Dunn recorded the vocals for "Husbands and Wives" in one take. Also included on the album was "Born and Raised in Black and White", the first song of the duo's career in which they alternated on lead vocals. The album's fourth single was "I Can't Get Over You", which was a top five country hit. Following it was "South of Santa Fe", which peaked at number 41 on the country charts and thus became the duo's lowest-peaking single there. In 2001, ''If You See Her'' reached double-platinum certification in the United States.

Jana Pendragon, in her review for Allmusic, praised Dunn's vocal performances on "Husbands and Wives" and the title track, but thought that most of the other cuts were "formula". ''Country Standard Time'' writer Kevin Oliver criticized the album for having "wildly uneven" material, calling the McEntire collaboration a "snoozer" and "South of Santa Fe" "wretched".

''Tight Rope''

''Tight Rope'', the duo's sixth album, was also its least commercially successful release. It was led off by a cover of John Waite's "Missing You", which the duo took to number 15 in late 1999. The album's other two singles were "Beer Thirty" at number nineteen and "You'll Always Be Loved By Me", which peaked at number five in 2000. Dunn co-wrote some songs on this album with Terry McBride (of McBride & the Ride), and Brooks collaborated with Bob DiPiero. Two non-single releases made the charts while "Beer Thirty" was climbing: the album track "Goin' Under Gettin' Over You", which made number 60 based on unsolicited airplay, and a cover of Bob Seger's "Against the Wind", which the duo recorded for the soundtrack to the cartoon ''King of the Hill''. ''Tight Rope'' was certified gold for U.S. shipments of 500,000 copies, but did not receive any higher certification.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave this album a mixed review, referring to the "Missing You" cover as a "misstep". Jon Weisberger thought that the album was "consistent" but added that it did not have any "surprises".

''Steers & Stripes''

Their seventh studio album, ''Steers & Stripes'', was released on April 17, 2001. For this album, the duo worked with producer Mark Wright, who also produced for Lee Ann Womack at the time. Its lead-off single, "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You", became their longest-lasting Number One hit, with a six-week stay at that position. This song was the second song of the duo's career to be named the top single of the year according to Billboard Year-End; it was also their highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, peaking at number 25 there. The next two singles from ''Steers & Stripes'' both made Number One as well: "Only in America" and "The Long Goodbye", the latter of which was written by Ronan Keating and Paul Brady. After it, the duo charted at number five with "My Heart Is Lost to You" and number twelve with a cover of Kim Richey's "Every River". All of these other singles also made the pop charts.

This album was generally well-received, with the reviews in Allmusic and ''Country Standard Time'' noting that the album was more consistent than the previous ones. Nash was less favorable, referreing to the up-tempos as "retreads" but praising Dunn's voice.

''It Won't Be Christmas Without You'' and ''Red Dirt Road''

Brooks & Dunn released a Christmas album in 2002 titled ''It Won't Be Christmas Without You''. Four of its cuts made the country music charts based on seasonal airplay: the title track, "Hangin' 'round the Mistletoe", "Rockin' Little Christmas" and a rendition of "Winter Wonderland".

''Red Dirt Road'', the duo's eighth studio album, was released in 2003. It was led off by its title track, which became the duo's eighteenth number one on ''Billboard''. Two more singles were released from it: "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl", which spent five weeks in the number three position, and "That's What She Gets for Loving Me" at number six. On the Hot 100, these songs respectively peaked at 25, 39 and 53.

Erlewine described ''Red Dirt Road'' as a concept album in his review of it, saying that its title track and other songs offered a "tribute to their roots and upbringing." Nash gave the album an A-minus rating, saying that Brooks & Dunn "dig even deeper" on the album; she also referred to the title track as a "gutsy account of the terrible beauty of coming of age." A less favorable review came from ''Country Standard Time'', whose critic Jeffrey B. Remz called it "satisfactory, but not much more." Both Nash and Remz compared "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" to the sound of The Rolling Stones.

''The Greatest Hits Collection II'' and ''Hillbilly Deluxe''

Arista released Brooks & Dunn's second Greatest Hits package, ''The Greatest Hits Collection II'', in October 2004. The album included singles from ''If You See Her'', ''Steers & Stripes'' and ''Red Dirt Road'', as well as the previously-unreleased "That's What It's All About" and "It's Getting Better All the Time". Respectively, these cuts peaked at numbers two and one on the country music charts, as well as 38 and 56 on the Hot 100.

In August 2005, the duo released "Play Something Country", the first cut from its ninth studio album, ''Hillbilly Deluxe''. According to Dunn, this song was inspired by Gretchen Wilson, with whom the duo was touring at the time. A month after the album's release, "Play Something Country" became the duo's twentieth and final number one on Hot Country Songs, and went to number 37 on the pop charts. The album's second single, "Believe", peaked at number eight and won the duo the next year's Single of the Year and Song of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. After it was "Building Bridges", which featured guest vocals from Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow and peaked at number four. Before the duo released this song, it was released in the mid-1980s by its co-writer Larry Willoughby, and later by Nicolette Larson. The final release from ''Hillbilly Deluxe'' was the title track, which peaked at number sixteen on Hot Country Songs.

Erlewine gave this album a positive review, saying that it was not "quite as ambitious" as the previous two albums, but "just as satisfying".

''Cowboy Town'' and ''#1s… and then some''

Their tenth studio album, ''Cowboy Town'', was released on October 2, 2007. Its lead-off single "Proud of the House We Built" reached number four on the country charts and 57 on the Hot 100. Following this song were "God Must Be Busy" at number eleven and "Put a Girl in It" at number three. After this song, the duo released "Cowgirls Don't Cry", which they later performed with Reba McEntire at the Country Music Association awards. Following this performance, the song was re-released with McEntire's vocals. In early 2009, the song peaked at number two on the country charts.

The duo released its final compilation, ''#1s… and Then Some'', on September 8, 2009. The album features 28 past hits songs and two new songs. Both of these new songs, "Indian Summer" and "Honky Tonk Stomp" (the latter a collaboration with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top), peaked at number sixteen on the country music charts.

2009–2010: Retirement

On August 10, 2009, Brooks & Dunn announced that they would be splitting up. They informed fans by releasing this statement on their website:

Dunn contributed a cover of Gary Stewart's "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)" to the soundtrack to the 2011 film ''Country Strong''. He released a self-titled solo album through Arista in 2011. The album includes the singles "Bleed Red" and "Cost of Livin'", both of which have charted in the top 40.

Other works

On the 3rd of November, 2008, the duo appeared on a panel to discuss entertainment law at the University of Tennessee's College of Law. They duetted in Cledus T. Judd's "Garth Must Be Busy", a parody of Brooks and Dunn's "God Must Be Busy". They also appeared in Cledus' music video.

Musical style

Steve Huey of Allmusic contrasts Brooks' and Dunn's voices, saying that Dunn "was the quietly intense singer with the soulful voice, while Kix Brooks played the part of the high-energy showman." He also describes their sound as "a winning formula of rambunctious, rocked-up honky tonk with punchy, danceable beats [alternated with] smooth, pop-tinged ballads."

Slim & Howdy

In the liner notes to each of their studio albums, Brooks & Dunn wrote short stories about Slim & Howdy, fictionalized cowboy versions of themselves. The duo worked with Bill Fitzhugh in late 2008 and wrote a book titled ''The Adventures of Slim and Howdy''.

On the road

Brooks & Dunn are renowned for their high-energy stage shows. In 2008, Brooks & Dunn paired up with ZZ Top and Rodney Atkins for a tour entitled Cowboy Town. This concert has been shown on GAC as well. Other recent tours have featured Australian country singer Keith Urban, fellow duo Montgomery Gentry, and Gretchen Wilson. Their Deuces Wild tour of 2005 featured fellow country duo Big and Rich. In 2006, the duo opened for the Rolling Stones at their Omaha, Nebraska show. Also in 2006, they toured with country artist Sara Evans and embarked on their The Long Haul Tour, which featured artists Jack Ingram and Sugarland.

The duo's songs have been used by President George W. Bush as his official campaign songs in both his 2000 election and 2004 re-election campaigns. In 2000 then Texas Governor Bush chose the blue-collar line-dance-friending hit of the mid-1990s, "Hard Workin' Man," and in 2004 the President selected the patriotic hit, "Only in America." Brooks & Dunn both supported the President's re-election campaign, performing at a Republican rally featuring Laura Bush on the eve of the election. John Kerry also had it played at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The song also played when Barack Obama announced Joe Biden as his vice president in Springfield, Illinois in 2008. "Only in America" was played after President Barack Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech in 2008.

They performed a concert tour in Australia in February and March 2008.

Discography

Albums

1991: ''Brand New Man''

1993: ''Hard Workin' Man''

1994: ''Waitin' on Sundown''

1996: ''Borderline''

1997: ''The Greatest Hits Collection''

1998: ''If You See Her''

1999: ''Tight Rope''

1999: ''Super Hits''

2001: ''Steers & Stripes''

2002: ''It Won't Be Christmas Without You''

2003: ''Red Dirt Road''

2004: ''The Greatest Hits Collection II''

2005: ''Hillbilly Deluxe''

2007: ''Cowboy Town''

2008: ''Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn''

2009: ''#1s… and Then Some''

Awards

Academy of Country Music

! Year	! Award
2010			Crystal Milestone Award	Top Vocal Duo
2008	Top Vocal Duo
	Top Vocal Duo
Vocal Event of the Year ("Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow)
	Top Vocal Duo
Home Depot Humanitarian Award
	Top Vocal Duo
Song of the Year ("Believe")
2004	Top Vocal Duo
2003	Top Vocal Duo
2002	Top Vocal Duo
	Entertainer of the Year
Video of the Year ("Only in America")
Top Vocal Duo
2000	Top Vocal Duo
1997	Vocal Duo or Group of the Year
	Entertainer of the Year
Top Vocal Duo
	Entertainer of the Year
Top Vocal Duo
1994	Top Vocal Duo
1993	Vocal Duo of the Year
	Vocal Duo of the Year
Album of the Year (''Brand New Man'')
Single Record of the Year ("Boot Scootin’ Boogie")
	Award Vocal Duo of the Year
Top New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year

Country Music Association

! Year	! Award
	Single of the Year ("Believe")
Music Video of the Year ("Believe")
Vocal Duo of the Year
2005	Vocal Duo of the Year
2004	Vocal Duo of the Year
2003	Vocal Duo of the Year
2002	Vocal Duo of the Year
2001	Vocal Duo of the Year
1999	Vocal Duo of the Year
1998	Vocal Duo of the Year
1997	Vocal Duo of the Year
	Entertainer of the Year
Vocal Duo of the Year
1995	Vocal Duo of the Year
1994	Vocal Duo of the Year
1993	Vocal Duo of the Year
1992	Vocal Duo of the Year

American Music Awards

! Year	! Award
2005	Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group
2004	Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group
1997	Favorite Country Band, Duo, or Group

Grammy Awards

! Year	! Award
1996	Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("My Maria")
1993	Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Hard Workin’ Man")

Billboard Music Awards

! Year	! Award
2005	Favorite Country Group

BMI Awards

! Year	! Award
2009	President's Awards

People's Choice Awards

! Year	! Award
2005	Favorite Country Group

CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards/CMT Music Awards

! Year	! Award
2002	Group or Duo Video of the Year ("Only in America")
2010	Duo Video of the Year ("Indian Summer")

TNN/Music City News Awards

! Year	! Award
1999	Vocal Group or Duo of the Year
1998	Vocal Group or Duo of the Year
1997	Vocal Duo of the Year
1996	Vocal Duo of the Year
1995	Vocal Group or Duo of the Year
1994	Vocal Duo of the Year
1993	Vocal Duo of the Year

References

External links

Category:American country music groups Category:Country music duos Category:Arista Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists Category:Musical groups established in 1991 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010

de:Brooks & Dunn fa:بروکس اند دان it:Brooks & Dunn nl:Brooks & Dunn pt:Brooks & Dunn

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
name	Meredith Brooks
background	solo_singer
birth name	Meredith Ann Brooks
birth date	June 12, 1958
instrument	Vocals, guitar
genre	Rock, pop
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician
years active	late 80's–present
label	CapitolGold CircleKissing Booth

Meredith Ann Brooks (born June 12, 1958) is an American singer/songwriter and guitarist. She is best known for her 1997 hit song "Bitch", for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Early life

Meredith Brooks was born in Oregon City, Oregon. Her parents divorced while she was still a child. She and her brother and sister grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and were raised by their mother. At age eleven, Brooks became fascinated with the guitar and she soon learned how to play it.

Career Beginnings; ''See It Through My Eyes'' [1984] and The Graces [1989]

In the early 1980s, Brooks performed at a number of clubs in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and in Washington, where she was popular to a broad range of fans. She often performed at the Last Hurrah, and Eli's Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Portland. She was managed by Denny Herman of Pacific Talent, who was also her boyfriend. She recorded ''Meredith Brooks and The Angels of Mercy: Recorded Live at the Starry Night'', a one-hour TV show. The video production was headed up by Mark de Leon Martinez, an established young music video producer from Portland. She performed that night as the opening act for Jack Charles. She then moved to Los Angeles to further her career in music. At that time, she recorded the songs that later appeared on ''See It Through My Eyes''. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she was a member of The Graces, who recorded one album, ''Perfect View'', in 1989.

''Blurring the Edges'' [1997] and ''Bitch''

In 1995, Brooks landed a major label contract with Capitol Records. Her first hit single, "Bitch", garnered her nominations for the 1998 Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. The song was Brooks' only major hit on the charts. Her album ''Blurring the Edges'' achieved platinum sales and peaked at 22 on the Billboard 200 and 5 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was produced by David Ricketts, formerly of David and David (with David Baerwald). Ricketts also played keyboards, among other instruments, on the album. Brooks toured in the US and Europe in 1997 and 1998 to support the album. On March 30 in Argentina, whilst opening for the Rolling Stones, the crowd demanded to see the Stones during her set and threw bottles and other objects at the stage. Brooks abandoned her set after 2 songs as the crowd yelled "come on Stones". The next day Brooks showed reporters bruises to her eye and ankle and stated: "They have taken away my greatest moment. I was playing with the Stones, something I never imagined I would do... and now I think I'll cancel the rest of my shows in Latin America. I have no intention of continuing to expose myself to this kind of barbaric behavior... not me, not my band, not my crew." In 1998 she divorced her husband, Russell Jackson, after seven years of marriage.

''Deconstruction'' [1999] and Lilith Fair

Brooks recorded her second major album ''Deconstruction'' in 1999. It was a stylistic and thematic shift away from ''Blurring the Edges''. She only toured in Europe and the album sold poorly. She originally wrote the song "Sin City", which appears on this album, for the movie ''Snake Eyes'', directed by her friend Brian De Palma. She toured with Sarah McLachlan's successful Lilith Fair.

''Bad Bad One'' [2002] and Label Independence

In 2002, Brooks worked on her third solo album ''Bad Bad One'' on Gold Circle Records, an independent label, after being booted out of Capitol Records. Immediately after releasing the album, the label folded and prevented the record from getting promoted or achieving significant sales. Track 11 - "Shine" - was released as the lead single. The label's demise also interrupted her tour with Melissa Etheridge that summer, causing her and the band to return early to Los Angeles. Also in 2002, Brooks produced Jennifer Love Hewitt's album, ''BareNaked'', and appeared on the VH1 ''Divas Las Vegas'' program as a guest guitar soloist with Celine Dion and Anastacia.

''Shine'' [2004]

In 2003, Brooks remarried and the next year adopted her son, Troy. She also signed a new record deal with the SLG Records label and released the material of ''Bad Bad One'' as ''Shine''. Television psychologist Dr. Phil chose the song "Shine" as the theme for his show.

''If I Could Be...'' [2008] and Becca

Most recently, Brooks has completed a new children's album titled ''If I Could Be...'' and continuing to develop new artists as a producer and songwriter. In particular, she is producing Sony Music Entertainment artist Becca, a pop/rock singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon.

Discography

Albums

! Year	! Album	Billboard 200>US Billboard 200
	''Blurring the Edges''
''See It Through My Eyes''
1999
2002	''Bad Bad One''
2004
2007	''If I Could Be...''

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions									Album
		! colspan="4"	! rowspan="2" width="35"	! rowspan="2" width="35"	! rowspan="2" width="35"	! rowspan="2" width="35"	! rowspan="2" width="35"
		! width="35"	! width="35"	! width="35"	! width="35"
		2	1	14	4	6	12	15	2	4
	—	—	—	—	28	—	77	—	—
	"What Would Happen"	46	15	21	—	49	—	—	—	—
"Stop"	—	40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)"	—	—	—	—	—	—	81	—	—
"Shout"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Shine"	—	—	35	—	—	—	—	—	—
"You Don't Know Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Where Lovers Meet"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

References

External links

Kissing Booth, Brook's blog

Meredith Brooks Top 40 Mainstream Page

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American female singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American female guitarists Category:Musicians from Oregon Category:People from Corvallis, Oregon Category:People from Oregon City, Oregon

cs:Meredith Brooks da:Meredith Brooks de:Meredith Brooks es:Meredith Brooks fr:Meredith Brooks it:Meredith Brooks ka:მერედით ბრუქსი nl:Meredith Brooks pl:Meredith Brooks ru:Брукс, Мередит fi:Meredith Brooks sv:Meredith Brooks

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
name	Mel Brooks
birth name	Melvin Kaminsky
birth date	June 28, 1926
birth place	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
medium	FilmTelevisionMusical theatre
nationality	American
influences	George M. CohanJack BennyBob HopeHarry RitzFred AstaireGene Kelly
influenced	Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Andy Samberg
active	1949–present
genre	Farce, parody
subject	Comedy
spouse	Florence Baum (1953-62, divorced), 3 childrenAnne Bancroft (1964-2005, her death), 1 child (Max Brooks)
Notable work	''The Producers''''Blazing Saddles''''Young Frankenstein'',''Spaceballs''
Emmyawards	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program1967 ''The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris Special''Outstanding Guest Actor - Comedy Series 1997, 1998, 1999 ''Mad About You'' |olivierawards Best New Musical 2005 ''The Producers'' |tonyawards Best Musical 2001 ''The Producers'' Best Book of a Musical 2001 ''The Producers'' Best Original Score 2001 ''The Producers'' |grammyawards Best Spoken Comedy Album 1999 ''2000 Year Old Man'' Best Long Form Music Video 2002 ''Recording 'The Producers': A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks'' Best Musical Show Album 2002 ''The Producers'' |awardtitle1 Saturn Award |award1 Saturn Award for Best Direction1975 ''Young Frankenstein'' Mel Brooks has won an Oscar, three Emmys, three grammys, three tonys, and has received four Golden Globe nominations. }}

}} Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. Brooks is a member of the short list of entertainers with the distinction of having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award. Three of his films ranked in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 comedy films of all-time: ''Blazing Saddles'' at number 6, ''The Producers'' at number 11, and ''Young Frankenstein'' at number 13.

Early life

Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn, New York, a son of Maximilian Kaminsky and his wife Kate (née Brookman). His father's family were German Jews from the Baltic Sea port of Danzig (the modern Polish port of Gdansk); his mother's family were Ukrainian Jews from Kiev. His father died of kidney disease when Brooks was only two years old.

Brooks was a small, sickly boy who was often bullied and picked on by his classmates. Taking on the comically aggressive job of Tummler (master entertainer) in various Catskills resorts, he gradually gained in confidence. Following high school, he attended the Army Specialized Training Program conducted at the Virginia Military Institute (although not actually as a VMI cadet) and served in the United States Army as a corporal during World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge.

Career

Early career

Brooks started as a stand-up comic performing in summers at the Catskill Mountains, telling jokes and doing movie-star impressions. He found more rewarding work behind the scenes, becoming a comedy writer for television. He joined the hit comedy series ''Your Show of Shows'' with Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner. Reiner, as creator of ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', based Morey Amsterdam's character Buddy Sorell on Brooks.

Starting in 1960, Brooks teamed with Reiner as a comedy duo on the Steve Allen Show. Their performances led to release a series of comedy albums that included a routine that eventually expanded into the 2000 Year Old Man series that yielded five albums and a 1975 animated TV special.

Brooks adapted the 2000 Year Old Man character to create the 2500 Year Old Brewmaster for Ballantine Beer in the 1960s. Interviewed by Dick Cavett in a series of ads, the Brewmaster (in a German accent, as opposed to the 2000 Year Old Man's Jewish voice) said he was inside the original Trojan horse and "could've used a six-pack of fresh air."

Brooks later moved into film, working as an actor, director, writer, and producer. Brooks's first film was ''The Critic'' (1963), an animated satire of arty, esoteric cinema, conceived by Brooks and directed by Ernest Pintoff. Brooks supplied running commentary as the baffled moviegoer trying to make sense of the obscure visuals. The short film won an Academy Award. With Buck Henry, Brooks created the successful TV series ''Get Smart'', starring Don Adams as a bumbling secret agent. This series added to Brooks's reputation as a clever satirist.

Brooks's first feature film, ''The Producers'', was a dark comedy about two theatrical partners who deliberately contrive the worst possible Broadway show. The film was so brazen in its satire (its big production number was "Springtime for Hitler") that the major studios would not touch it, nor would many exhibitors. Brooks finally found an independent distributor, which released it like an art film, as a specialized attraction. The film received an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film became a smash underground hit, first on the nationwide college circuit, then in revivals and on home video. Brooks later turned it into a musical, which became hugely successful on Broadway, receiving an unprecedented twelve Tony awards.

His two most financially successful films were released in 1974: ''Blazing Saddles'' (co-written with Richard Pryor, Andrew Bergman, Norman Steinberg and Alan Uger), and ''Young Frankenstein'' (co-written with Gene Wilder). He followed these up with an audacious idea: the first feature-length silent comedy in four decades. ''Silent Movie'' (co-written with Ron Clark, 1976) featured Brooks in his first leading role, with Dom DeLuise and Marty Feldman as his sidekicks; it also featured, ironically, Marcel Marceau, in a cameo appearance as himself, who uttered the film's single word of audible dialogue. The following year he released his Hitchcock parody ''High Anxiety'' (also written with Clark), which was the first movie produced by Brooks himself.

Brooks developed a repertory company of sorts for his film work: performers with three or more of Brooks' films (''The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I, Spaceballs, Life Stinks, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It'') to their credit include Gene Wilder, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Ron Carey, Dick Van Patten and Andréas Voutsinas. Dom DeLuise appeared in six of Brooks's 11 original films, the only person with more appearances being Brooks himself.

In 1975, at the height of his movie career, Brooks tried TV again with ''When Things Were Rotten'', a Robin Hood parody that lasted only 13 episodes. Nearly twenty years later, in response to the 1991 hit film ''Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'', Brooks mounted another Robin Hood parody with ''Robin Hood: Men in Tights''. Brooks's film resurrected several pieces of dialog from his TV series, as well as from earlier Brooks films.

Later career

By 1980, Siskel and Ebert called Brooks and Woody Allen "the two most successful comedy directors in the world today ... America's two funniest filmmakers." That year, Brooks produced the dramatic film ''The Elephant Man'' (directed by David Lynch). Knowing that anyone seeing a poster reading "Mel Brooks presents ''The Elephant Man''" would expect a comedy, he set up the company Brooksfilms. Brooksfilms has since produced a number of non-comedy films, including David Cronenberg's ''The Fly'', ''Frances'', and ''84 Charing Cross Road'', starring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft, as well as comedies, including Richard Benjamin's ''My Favorite Year'', which was partially based on his real life. Brooks sought to purchase the rights to ''84 Charing Cross Road'' for his wife, Anne Bancroft, for many years. He successfully obtained the rights to the movie and presented them to her as an anniversary gift.

The 1980s saw Brooks produce and direct only two films, the first being ''History of the World Part I'' in 1981, a tongue-in-cheek look at human culture from the Dawn of Man to the French Revolution. As part of the film's soundtrack, Brooks, then aged 55, recorded a rap entitled ''"It's Good to Be the King"'', a parody of Louis XVI and the French Revolution; it was released as a single, and became a surprise US dance hit. His second movie release of the decade came in 1987 in the form of ''Spaceballs'', a parody of science fiction, mainly ''Star Wars''. Both films featured him in multiple roles. He also starred in the 1983 remake of ''To Be or Not to Be'', which spawned a highly controversial single that featured as part of the film's soundtrack album (although not in the film itself) - ''"To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler Rap)"''. The song - satirising German society in the 1940s with Brooks playing Hitler - was an unlikely hit, peaking at #12 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1984 and #3 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report) that same year.

One of his most recent successes has been a transfer of his film ''The Producers'' to the Broadway stage. Brooks also had a vocal role in the 2005 animated film ''Robots''. He then worked on an animated series sequel to ''Spaceballs'' called ''Spaceballs: The TV Series'', which premiered on September 21, 2008 on G4 TV.

Brooks is one of the few artists who have received an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy. He was awarded his first Grammy award for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1999 for his recording of ''The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000'' with Carl Reiner. His two other Grammys came in 2002 for Best Musical Show Album, for the soundtrack to ''The Producers'', and for Best Long Form Music Video for the DVD "Recording the Producers - A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks". He won his first of four Emmy awards in 1967 for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety for a Sid Caesar special. He went on to win three consecutive Emmys in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role of Uncle Phil on ''Mad About You''. He won his three Tony awards in 2001 for his work on the musical, ''The Producers''. He won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Original Musical Score, and Best Book of a Musical. Additionally, he won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award for ''Young Frankenstein''. In a 2005 poll to find ''The Comedian's Comedian'', he was voted #50 of the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Three of Brooks's films are on the American Film Institute's list of funniest American films: ''Blazing Saddles'' (#6), ''The Producers'' (#11), and ''Young Frankenstein'' (#13).

Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft acted together in ''Silent Movie'' and ''To Be or Not to Be'', and Bancroft also had a bit part in the 1995 film ''Dracula: Dead and Loving It''. Years later, the Brookses appeared as themselves in the fourth season finale of ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'', spoofing the finale of ''The Producers''. It is reported that Bancroft encouraged Brooks (after an idea suggested by David Geffen) to take ''The Producers'' to Broadway where it became an enormous success, as the show broke the Tony record with 12 wins, a record that had previously been held for 37 years by ''Hello, Dolly!'' at 10 wins. Such success has translated to a big-screen version of the Broadway adaptation/remake with actors Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane reprising their stage roles, in addition to new cast members Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell. As of early April 2006, Brooks had begun composing the score to a Broadway musical adaptation of ''Young Frankenstein'', which he says is "perhaps the best movie [he] ever made." The world premiere was performed at Seattle's most historic theatre (originally built as a movie palace), The Paramount Theatre, between August 7, 2007, and September 1, 2007 after which it opened on Broadway at the former Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre), New York, on October 11, 2007. It has since earned mixed reviews from the critics.

In interviews broadcast on WABC radio, Brooks has discussed with NYC radio personality Mark Simone the possibilities of turning other works from his creative oeuvre (such as the movie ''Blazing Saddles'') into future musical productions. Specifically, in a conversation airing March 1, 2008, he and Simone speculated on what show tunes might be incorporated into a theatrical adaptation of the ''Get Smart'' property.

On December 5, 2009 Brooks was one of five recipients of 2009 Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

On April 23, 2010 Brooks was awarded the 2,406th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

Brooks was married to Florence Baum from 1953 to 1962. Their marriage ended in divorce. Mel and Florence had three children, Stephanie, Nicky, and Eddie.

Brooks was married to the actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death from uterine cancer on June 6, 2005. They met on rehearsal for the Perry Como Variety Show in 1961 and married three years later, August 5, at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. Their son, Max Brooks, was born in 1972. In 2010, Brooks credited Bancroft as being the guiding force behind his involvement in developing ''The Producers'' and ''Young Frankenstein'' for the musical theater, citing an early meeting as "From that day, until her death on June 5, 2005, we were glued together."

Work

Writer/director

''The Producers'' (1968) (Academy Award, best original screenplay)

''The Twelve Chairs'' (1970) (also actor)

''Blazing Saddles'' (1974) (also actor)

''Young Frankenstein'' (1974)

''Silent Movie'' (1976) (also actor)

''High Anxiety'' (1977) (also actor/producer)

''History of the World, Part I'' (1981) (also actor/producer)

''Spaceballs'' (1987) (also actor/producer)

''Life Stinks'' (1991) (also actor/producer)

''Robin Hood: Men in Tights'' (1993) (also actor/producer)

''Dracula: Dead and Loving It'' (1995) (also actor/producer)

Theatre

''Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1952'' (1952) (sketches for a revue)

''Shinbone Alley'' (1957) (co-book-writer)

''All-American'' (1962) (book-writer)

''The Producers'' (2001) (composer, lyricist, co-book-writer, producer; Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, Tony Award for Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical)

''Young Frankenstein'' (2007) (composer, lyricist, co-book-writer, producer)

Other credits

''Your Show of Shows'' (TV) (1950–1954) (writer)

''New Faces of 1952'' (Broadway) (1952) (writer) and "New Faces", the 1954 film version (writer)

''The Critic'' (created and narrated, won Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film) (1963)

''Get Smart'' (TV) (1965–1970) (co-creator, writer)

''The Electric Company'' (TV) (1971–1977) (voice of recurring little cartoon man who asks: "Who's the dummy writing this show?!")

''Hollywood Squares'' (1972) (Guest star)

''When Things Were Rotten'' (1975) (co-created, writer)

''The Muppet Movie'' (1979) (Special Guest Star-Mad Scientist Professor Max Krassman)

''The Elephant Man'' (1980) (uncredited executive producer)

''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983) (actor, producer)

''The Fly'' (1986) (uncredited producer)

''The Fly II'' (1989) (uncredited producer)

''The Nutt House'' (1989) (co-creator)

''The Tracey Ullman Show (1990) (actor-Buzz Schlanger)

''Look Who's Talking Too'' (1990) (voice of Mr. Toilet Man)

''Frasier'' (1993) (voice of Tom)

''The Little Rascals'' (1994) (actor-Mr. Welling)

''Silence of the Hams'' (1994) (actor-Checkout Guest)

''The Simpsons'' (1995, "Homer vs. Patty and Selma") (voice-himself)

''Mad About You'' (TV) (1996–1999) (actor-Uncle Phil)

''The Prince of Egypt'' (1998) (uncredited, additional voices)

''Svitati'' (AKA ''Screw Loose'') (1999) (actor-Jake Gordon)

''It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie'' (2002) (voice of Joe Snow)

''The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius: Season 2'' (2003) (voice of Santa Claus)

''Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks'' (2003–2007) (voice of Wiley the Sheep)

''Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 4'' (2004) (actor)

''Robots'' (2005) (voice of Bigweld)

''The Producers'' (2005) (writer, producer, cameo as himself)

''Spaceballs: The Animated Series'' (2008) (writer, producer, voice)

''Get Smart'' (2008) (Consultant)

''The 2000 Year Old Man: The Complete History'' (2009) DVD

''The Wizard of Oz'' (2012) (actor-The Wizard of Oz)

Rotten Tomatoes ratings

92% 89% 94% 89% 74% 62% 20% 48%

Film !! All Critics !! Top Critics !! Audience
''The Producers (1968 film)	The Producers''	93%	90%
''The Twelve Chairs (1970 film)	The Twelve Chairs''	|	N/A	62%
''Blazing Saddles''	|	80%	89%
''Young Frankenstein''	|	N/A	91%
''Silent Movie''	|	N/A	65%
''High Anxiety''	|	N/A	66%
''History of the World, Part I''	|	N/A	33%	80%
''Life Stinks''	|	N/A	44%
''Robin Hood: Men in Tights''	|	N/A	20%	52%
! Average !! 66% !! 56% !! 72%

Collaborations

!	The Producers (1968 film)>The Producers''	The Twelve Chairs (1970 film)>Twelve Chairs''	! ''Blazing Saddles''	! ''Young Frankenstein''	! ''Silent Movie''	! ''High Anxiety''	! ''History of the World, Part I''	! ''Spaceballs''	! ''Life Stinks''	! ''Robin Hood: Men in Tights''	! ''Dracula: Dead and Loving It''
Carol Arthur
Anne Bancroft
Mark Blankfield
Sid Caesar
Charlie Callas
Megan Cavanagh
Dom DeLuise
Liam Dunn
Marty Feldman
Sandy Helberg
John Hurt
Madeline Kahn
Harvey Korman
Cloris Leachman
Barry Levinson
Rudy De Luca
Kenneth Mars
Howard Morris
Dick Van Patten
Robert Ridgely
Andréas_Voutsinas
Albert Whitlock
Gene Wilder
Amy Yasbeck

See also

List of persons who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards

References

Further reading

Jeff Rovin. ''Cat Angels'', Harper Paperbacks, ISBN 0-06-100972-5

Parish, James Robert. ''It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks'' (2007) Wiley ISBN 0-471-75267-3

External links

Mel Brooks - Box Office Data Movie Director at The Numbers

Mel Brooks - Box Office Data Movie Star at The Numbers

"The Films of Mel Brooks", video compilation of film clips, 5 minutes

Interview with Brooks on NPR's ''Fresh Air'' (March 16, 2005)

TonyAwards.com Interview with Mel Brooks at Tony Awards site

Interview with Mel Brooks biographer James Robert Parish

Photographs and literature

Category:1926 births Category:Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn, New York) alumni Category:American comedians Category:American military personnel of World War II Category:American musical theatre composers Category:American satirists Category:American theatre managers and producers Category:American voice actors Category:Best Original Screenplay Academy Award winners Category:Emmy Award winners Category:English-language film directors Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Jewish actors Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent Category:American people of German-Jewish descent Category:Jewish American writers Category:Jewish comedians Category:Jewish American composers and songwriters Category:Kennedy Center honorees Category:Living people Category:People from Brooklyn Category:People from Fire Island, New York Category:Saturn Award winners Category:Tony Award winners Category:United States Army soldiers

ar:ميل بروكس an:Mel Brooks bs:Mel Brooks bg:Мел Брукс ca:Mel Brooks da:Mel Brooks de:Mel Brooks es:Mel Brooks eu:Mel Brooks fa:مل بروکس fr:Mel Brooks gl:Mel Brooks hr:Mel Brooks id:Mel Brooks it:Mel Brooks he:מל ברוקס lv:Mels Brukss hu:Mel Brooks nl:Mel Brooks ja:メル・ブルックス no:Mel Brooks nds:Mel Brooks pl:Mel Brooks pt:Mel Brooks ru:Брукс, Мел simple:Mel Brooks sk:Mel Brooks sr:Мел Брукс sh:Mel Brooks fi:Mel Brooks sv:Mel Brooks tl:Mel Brooks tr:Mel Brooks

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
name	Marshon Brooks
height ft	6
height in	5
weight lbs	200
number	9
league	National Basketball Association
team	New Jersey Nets
position	Shooting Guard
nationality	American
birth date	January 26, 1989
birth place	Long Branch, New Jersey
highschool	Tucker High School
college	Providence
draft round	1
draft pick	25
draft year	2011
draft team	Boston Celtics
career start	2011
career end	}}

Marshon Brooks (born January 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball shooting guard with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 25th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The Nets sent JaJuan Johnson, taken at pick 27 to Boston for Brooks, along with a second rounder in 2014.

Early years

Brooks was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and lived there until he was six years old, when his family moved to Tucker, Georgia. He attended Tucker High School.

College career

Marshon Brooks played collegiate basketball in the Big East Conference for the Providence Friars. Not heavily recruited out of high school, Brooks saw little playing time his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Brooks was expected to become a major contributor for the Friars in his junior season (2009–10). Brooks averaged 14.2 points a game, shooting 46.7% from the field. He posted 20 points or more in several games, including a 24-point game on 8-of-10 shooting against Vermont on November 24, 2009, a game in which he also picked up five steals. Also, he recorded 25 points and five rebounds on January 23, 2010 against South Florida.

As a senior in 2010–11, Brooks averaged 24.6 points per game, first in the Big East Conference. Besides leading his team in scoring and rebounding, he was second in Division I in scoring. He was named to the 30-player national midseason watchlist and was one of 20 national finalists for the 2011 John R. Wooden Award.

On February 23, 2011, Brooks scored 52 points against Notre Dame, tying the school record held by Marvin Barnes, and breaking the Big East record of 48 points in a game. He scored 35 points in the second half alone, 15 of them in the final 2:57, leading a comeback that would fall short as Notre Dame picked up the win, 94-93. Brooks scored his final points on a 3-point shot with two seconds remaining, leaving the Friars down a point. He hit 20-of-28 shots on the night. Fellow Friar Eric Murdock held the previous record of 48, set against Pittsburgh in 1991. It was also Brooks' second 40-point game of the season; he had 43 in a loss at Georgetown on February 5, 2011. He became only the third player in Providence history with two 40-point games in a season.

On March 5, 2011, Brooks scored 28 points in a regular season-ending win over Rutgers, giving him 468 points on the Big East regular season. That broke the previous single-season conference mark of 462 points set by Connecticut's Donyell Marshall in 1994.

Brooks finished his college career with 1,629 points, ninth all-time for Providence. On March 28, 2011, he was named a third-team Associated Press All-American. He was picked to the Fourth Team All-America by Fox Sports.

Brooks left Providence College with two months left in his senior year to focus on preparing for the 2011 NBA Draft. Brooks left school two classes short of obtaining his degree.

He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2011 and traded to the New Jersey Nets. The Celtics traded Marshon Brooks to the New Jersey Nets for their 27th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, JaJuan Johnson, and a second round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

References

External links

Providence Friars bio

ESPN College Basketball stats

Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Basketball players from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:American basketball players Category:Providence Friars men's basketball players Category:Boston Celtics draft picks Category:Shooting guards

es:Marshon Brooks gl:Marshon Brooks ru:Брукс, Маршон

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
birthname	Rebekah Mary Wade
birth date	May 27, 1968
birth place	Warrington, Cheshire, England
occupation	Journalist, newspaper editor
spouse	Ross Kemp(m. 2002–09, divorced)
credits	''The Post'', ''The Sun'', ''News of the World'' }}

Rebekah Mary Brooks (née Wade, born 27 May 1968) is a British journalist and former newspaper editor. She was chief executive of News International (from 2009 to 2011), having previously served as the youngest editor of a British national newspaper as editor of the ''News of the World'' (from 2000 to 2003) and the first female editor of ''The Sun'' (from 2003 to 2009). She married actor Ross Kemp in 2002; in 2009, they divorced, and she married former racehorse trainer and author Charlie Brooks.

She is a prominent figure in the News International phone hacking scandal, having been the editor of the ''News of the World'' when illegal phone hacking was allegedly carried out by the newspaper. On 15 July 2011, Brooks resigned as chief executive of News International, following widespread criticism of her role in the controversy. On 17 July 2011, she was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and on suspicion of corruption.

Early life

Brooks was born Rebekah Mary Wade in Warrington, Lancashire (now Cheshire). She grew up in Daresbury, and decided she wanted to be a journalist from the age of fourteen. She attended Appleton Hall County Grammar School in Warrington.

A childhood friend, Louise Weir, described her as "more emotionally intelligent than academic", charming and always able to get what she wanted out of people.

In Brooks' entry in ''Who's Who'' she stated that she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, but did not claim to have a degree, and did not later answer questions about this; in a 2003 ''Spectator'' article, Stephen Glover suggested that, since she was working at the age of 20 for the ''News of the World'', "we can safely assume that she did not study at the Sorbonne in any meaningful way". In 2010, Brooks was awarded an honorary Fellowship from the University of the Arts, London, for her contribution to journalism. She attended the London College of Printing, now part of the university, as a student.

The economics commentator Henry Porter claims little is known of Brooks personally. Tim Minogue, who was one of her first co-editors before becoming a journalist at ''Private Eye'' magazine, recalled a “likeable, skinny, hollow-eyed girl who was very ambitious”.

Career

After school she worked for the French magazine ''L'architecture d'aujourd'hui'' in Paris, before returning to Britain to work for Eddy Shah's Messenger Group. Graham Ball, the then features editor at ''The Post'' newspaper, recalled that she was a notably astute and intelligent staff member. When ''The Post'' was disbanded, Brooks then moved to the ''News of the World''.

News of the World

She joined the Sunday newspaper ''News of the World'' in 1989 as a secretary, before working as a feature writer for its 'Sunday' magazine where she worked on "The A to Z of Soaps" with TV soap expert Chris Stacey, and eventually becoming the paper's deputy editor. "In 1994, she prepared for the ''News of the World'''s interview with James Hewitt, a paramour of Princess Diana, by reserving a hotel suite and hiring a team to "kit it out with secret tape devices in various flowerpots and cupboards", Piers Morgan, her former boss and now a CNN talk show host (and ABC talent-show judge), wrote in his memoir ''The Insider'', ''The New York Times'' relayed in July 2011. In 1998, she transferred to the ''News of the World'' daily counterpart, ''The Sun'', where she was appointed its deputy editor. In this period, she reportedly attempted to persuade David Yelland to end the Page Three Girls feature. She then returned to the ''News of the World'' in 2000 as editor; at the time, she was the youngest editor of a national British newspaper.

While at the ''News of the World'', she oversaw its controversial campaign of "naming and shaming" individuals suspected to be convicted child sex offenders-- a campaign launched in the wake of the murder of Sarah Payne. The paper's decision led to angry mobs terrorising those they suspected of being child sex offenders, which included several cases of mistaken identity and one instance where a paediatrician had her house vandalised, apparently by people who misunderstood her occupational title to be the same as paedophile. The campaign was labelled "grossly irresponsible" journalism by the then Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, Tony Butler, but, in a rare interview, Brooks defended the paper's actions on the BBC's ''Breakfast with Frost'', stating that it was "only right that the public have controlled access" to information on sex offenders. The paper's already strong sales held up well under her leadership, while those of rival Sunday newspapers ''The People'' and the ''Sunday Mirror'' fell more sharply.

Lord Prescott was impressed with the way Rebekah handled the story of his wife, Pauline, giving up one of her children for adoption as "very reasonable and professional" in style.

The Sun

In January 2003, she returned to ''The Sun'', replacing her former boss David Yelland, to become its first female editor. On Brooks' first day as editor the Page Three girl was Rebekah Parmar-Teasdale – the caption to the picture was "Rebekah from Wapping". Soon after becoming editor, Brooks ran the headline "Bonkers Bruno Locked Up" concerning the mental health problems of former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno. The next day ''The Sun'' ran a 600-word reply from the head of the mental health charity Sane, and since then has adopted a style guide on covering mental health stories prepared by the same charity. Brooks and her husband spent a day with the head of Sane and made donations to the charity.

During a March 2003 appearance before the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport as part of an inquiry into privacy issues, Brooks stated that her newspaper had paid police officers for information. Alison Clark, the director of corporate affairs at News International, later stated: "It is not company practice to pay police for information".

Brooks has been chair of the organisation Women in Journalism, and has served as a judge for the "Guardian Student Media Awards" in November 2003 and the tenth annual Police Bravery Awards in July 2005, the latter sponsored by ''The Sun''.

News International

In June 2009, it was announced that she would leave ''The Sun'' in September 2009, to become chief executive of the newspaper's parent company, News International. Dominic Mohan was named her successor as editor of ''The Sun''.

Rebekah Brooks has become noted in media circles for having conquered the world of tabloid journalism with meteoric success and in becoming Rupert Murdoch's proxy.

Phone hacking scandal

A police enquiry revealed that the ''News of the World'' had a routine practice of intercepting mobile phone messages of celebrities, politicians and other public figures. The newspaper's reporter, Clive Goodman, and Glenn Mulcaire, a hired investigator, were convicted and jailed for intercepting the phone messages of members of the royal family in 2006.

Brooks said on 10 July 2009, "''The Guardian'' coverage [of the phone hacking affair], we believe, has substantially and likely deliberately misled the British public".

Questioning by MPs

In 2003, under questioning by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee of the House of Commons, Chris Bryant MP asked her and Andy Coulson whether either of their newspapers had ever been involved in various improper acts. Brooks replied, "We have paid police for information in the past". Andy Coulson stepped in to say that payments were only made lawfully. ''The Sun'', of which Brooks was editor, subsequently ridiculed Chris Bryant in a number of articles, starting with one about a photograph of him in his underpants from a gay dating web site. Brooks later claimed that in her response to Bryant's question she had merely been speaking about the widespread belief that payments had been made to police, and denied having any knowledge of specific payments.

According to MPs, Rebekah Brooks refused three times to attend the committee again to be questioned further, resulting in four committee members "considering asking the serjeant at arms to issue a warrant forcing Brooks to attend"; however they subsequently dropped this proposal because they believed their private lives would be investigated if they did so. John Whittingdale, chair of the committee, stated there was a conversation "about the possible repercussions of issuing a warrant for Brooks but said that did not have any bearing on his decision and he did not believe News International would target committee members."

Milly Dowler

In 2011, ''The Guardian'' and a solicitor alleged that in 2002, when Brooks was editor, the paper had also hacked the voicemail of missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler (later found to be murdered), to access messages left by her parents. It was also alleged that messages had been deleted when the mailbox was getting full, to allow new messages to be left and illicitly listened to; this caused the missing girl's family to think that she was still alive and monitoring her messages. ''The New York Times'' London reporter Sarah Lyall wrote that, if the allegations were true, "it would mean either that Ms. Brooks had no idea how the paper she edited was obtaining information about the Dowler family for its articles, or that she knew about the hacking and allowed it". In an email to her staff Brooks said it was "inconceivable" that she had known what was happening over Milly Dowler's voicemail.

Resignation

In July 2011, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said Brooks should "consider her position" after the Milly Dowler allegations. Prime Minister David Cameron said that if Brooks had offered her resignation to him, he would have accepted it. Milly Dowler's parents also called for Brooks' resignation.

When Brooks told ''News of the World'' staff that the newspaper was being closed down, some reportedly said that all of their jobs had been sacrificed in order to save hers. Andreas Whittam Smith suggested that Brooks' decision not to resign was symptomatic of "the self-serving, conceited thesis that 'only I, who was at the helm during the disaster, can steer us to safety'".

On 14 July, News Corporation's second largest shareholder, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Alsaud, called for her resignation in a BBC interview.

Having previously had an offer of resignation rejected, Brooks resigned from News International on 15 July 2011. She said: "As chief executive of the company, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the people we have hurt and I want to reiterate how sorry I am for what we now know to have taken place. I have believed that the right and responsible action has been to lead us through the heat of the crisis. However my desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate. This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past. Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted."

The Daily Telegraph reported that despite resigning from her position, Brooks remained on the company payroll and continued to receive her salary from News International, having been told by Rupert Murdoch to "to travel the world on him for a year".

Arrest

On 17 July 2011, Brooks was arrested by police on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and on suspicion of corruption allegations. She was arrested by detectives working on Operation Weeting, the Metropolitan Police's phone hacking probe, and Operation Elveden, the probe examining illicit payments to police officers. Brooks' public relations agent Dave Wilson told CNN that she did not know she was going to be arrested when she arrived for a pre-arranged interview with London's Metropolitan Police Service.

Following twelve hours in custody, Brooks was released on bail until October 2011.

Political connections

There has been criticism of her influence on leading politicians, and possible connections between this and the phone hacking affair. Most notably, Brooks and her husband have close social ties to Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife. For example, scrutiny has focused on a December 2010 dinner party that was attend by both David Cameron and James Murdoch.

Brooks was also a friend of Tony and Cherie Blair and Gordon and Sarah Brown. Her 2009 wedding to Charlie Brooks was attended both by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and current Prime Minister David Cameron.

Personal life

Brooks became engaged to actor Ross Kemp (best known as Grant Mitchell in ''EastEnders'') in 1996, and married him in June 2002 in Las Vegas. On 3 November 2005, it was reported that Brooks had been arrested following an alleged assault on her husband. She was later released without charge and the police took no further action. ''The Sun'' had been running a campaign against domestic violence at the time. From this point, Brooks was referred to in ''Private Eye'' as "the slapper" (a pejorative British word for a woman of loose morals, and a pun on the act of slapping). The couple had spent the previous evening in the company of the former Cabinet Minister David Blunkett, who had resigned for the second time on that day.

''Private Eye'' and ''The Independent'' reported that the couple had separated; this was not widely reported in the remainder of the British press. The 7 March 2008 issue of ''Private Eye'' refers to her "paramour", former racehorse trainer and author Charlie Brooks. ''The Guardian'' reported on 5 June 2009, that he would marry Brooks. ''The Independent'' reported that Brooks and her fiancé had married in a lakeside ceremony in June 2009. It was reported that a laptop and other items allegedly belonging to Charlie Brooks were found in the rubbish bins at the couple's London flat in Chelsea Harbour and, despite being claimed by Mr Brooks, were removed by police for examination. It is unknown whether the police consider the laptop relevant to their 'phone hacking inquiry.

In July 2011, MP Chris Bryant claimed that Brooks had previously "sneered" at Bryant's homosexuality, and that Kemp had responded "Shut up, you homophobic cow".

Brooks is a friend of Sheryl Gascoigne, the ex-wife of footballer Paul Gascoigne. She also attended the Prince of Wales' 50th birthday party.

Brooks also enjoys horse riding and invited the prime minister to her Christmas party according to Henry Porter.

Brooks lives in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

See also

News Corporation

News Limited

Rupert Murdoch

James Weatherup

References

External links

Category:1968 births Category:People from Warrington Category:English journalists Category:English newspaper editors Category:News of the World people Category:The Sun (United Kingdom) people Category:News International phone hacking scandal Category:Living people

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