DONNIE BROOKS: THE HAPPIEST (ERA LABEL ROCKABILLY)

$

27

Wow, what you are bidding on is the super rare, hard to find lp by DONNIE BROOKS: THE HAPPIEST.... on ERA Records from 1961.  The jacket has a seam split on top but other than that it's perfect!  Sorry i could not scan entire lp too big.

Born John Dee Abohosh in Dallas, Texas on Feb 06 1936, this young man was destined to become one of Rock and Roll and Rockabilly's brightest stars.

He assumed the name Johnny Fairecloth when his stepfather adopted him, and moved the family to the San Deigo, California area. Johnny became interested in music at an early age and began performing at school functions to standing ovations from his fellow students.

The family then moved to Ojhi, Calif. where he attended, as he says, "Our Lady Of Perpetual Punishment School". He actually attended Sacred Heart Grammar School and Vila Nova High, where his vocal teacher, Mrs. Reardon, got him on a radio station in Ventura, Calif. station (KBCC) doing a 15 minute classical music show. Al Berkman a local promoter and Eddie Fisher's vocal coach began teaching Johnny stage, dance and music presentation.

He began singing for various local clubs, fairs, weddings, and doing some demo recordings for a local label in Los Angeles, Fable Records. He eventually recorded three singles for Fable using the name Johnny Faire. All were numbered #601 for some unknown reason.

From there he signed with Surf label doing demos again, but as fate would have it his great friend and mentor Dorsey Burnette had recorded a little song called" Bertha Lou", but was still under contract to Coral Records, so Surf couldn't release it! The owner of surf called on Johnny Faire to recut the vocal track by taking Dorsey's vocal off and inserting Johnny Faire's voice on what has become one of the premiere rockabilly classic's of all time!

Johnny Faire then moved onto Jolt label for one record using the name Johnny Jordan. Jordan being the name of the owner of the record company.

Then a one shot deal with a major label of the time Era Records, again recording a Rockabilly classic "Hollywood Party" under the name Dick Bush. The name being a high school joke. He so impressed Era owners, Herb Newman and Lew Bidell, with his vocals, he was signed to a contract with Era and Became DONNIE BROOKS.

His first recording as Donnie Brooks was a sad love song (popular at the time) called White Orchid, which was released on the west coast to moderate success selling over 50,000 copies. This proved to the company he was a sellable talent. (NOTE Australian sales were around 200,000 copies and charted there in the #1 position).

Herb Newman, owner of Era records, was confident he had a star on his hands and purchased a song titled "Wishing Well" written by Willam Michels which he, Donnie and Dorsey Burnette rewrote. Burnette had a hit at the time named" Tall Oak Tree" and that line was added to the now titled "MISSION BELL" ... How tall? Taller than the tallest tree. "Mission Bell" to date has sold over 8,000,000 copies! This earned Donnie his first of Three Gold records. His follow up hit was "Doll House" (5,000,000 copies). Quickly followed by Memphis with 2,500,000 copies. They were right - a new star was on the scene! His appearances on Dick Clark's Bandstand brought him to the attention of the world and movie producers.



ERA RECORDS: EL 105 1961

Tracks: 
That's Why
Memories Are Made Of This
Mission Bee
How Long
The Devil Ain't A Man
Twilight Time
Memphis
PS I Love You
All I Can Give
What'd I Say
Doll House
Round Robin
Low starting price, no reserve. Good luck