He discovered a singing voice at a young age and recorded a few minor hits with several small record labels under the stage names Johnny Jordan, Dick Bush (which sole single "Hollywood Party" was his first for Era), and Johnny Faire,[1] the latter gaining some sales with "Bertha Lou" in early 1959, while a cover version by Clint Miller charted nationally.
Brooks was still without a recording contract in 1958 when he played a set at a El Monte Legion Stadium show, singing two songs that included Ray Charles' hit "What'd I Say".
In an interview for a 2006 concert he performed at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California (posted on YouTube),[4] Brooks revealed that he was the voice of the opening theme to the cartoon series George of the Jungle.
In addition to "Mission Bell", Brooks produced recording artists Merrilee Rush ("Angel of the Morning"), Cannibal & the Headhunters ("Land of 1000 Dances"), Len Barry ("1-2-3," "Bristol Stomp", "You Can't Sit Down"), and Jewel Akens ("The Birds and the Bees").
Brooks also produced "30 Years of Rock and Roll", a touring live show featuring all of the above-mentioned performers along with Dennis Yost of the Classics IV, Larry Raspberry of the Gentrys, The Fireballs, and Tiny Tim.