Brooks was the second youngest of 11 children, born to a Native American mother and an African-American father.

[2][1] After leaving the Crystals, she married jazz and session musician Idris Muhammad (born Leo Morris) in 1966; the union brought two sons and two daughters.

In 1971, she reunited with Kenniebrew, Mary Thomas, and Barbara Alston as the Crystals, and toured and performed in rock-&-roll revival shows.

In 1990, they moved to Vienna, Austria, where she continued singing and writing songs with Idris, and also hosted a local radio show.

Andrew Edge sang backing vocals on her BMG (Austria) CD LaLa Brooks & Friends in 1994.