Dolores LaLa Brooks

Biography

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

Brooks first displayed her talent by singing gospel music in church. At age seven, she took part in her siblings' gospel group called the Little Gospel Tears, where they sang in Brooklyn. While attending PS 73, she was discovered in an after-school program by Dolores "Dee Dee" Kenniebrew and her mother, who invited her to join the Crystals as a replacement for a departing member.

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. Shortly thereafter, she converted to Islam with him, going under the name Sakinah Muhammad. She then helped him write and record his material over the years. In 1968, she appeared in the original Broadway production of the musical Hair, where she performed the song "Aquarius". She would later appear in the Broadway show Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1971. She also toured with and recorded for various artists (such as the Neville Brothers, Bobby Womack and Isaac Hayes); made short appearances in films; and contributed songs to different movie soundtracks (including the 1970 film Cotton Comes to Harlem). In 1971, she reunited with Kenniebrew, Mary Thomas, and Barbara Alston as the Crystals and toured and performed in rock-&-roll revival shows. Their touring lasted until 1973, when the members decided to devote their time to their families.

In 1983, she and her family moved to London, England, where she and Idris continued their careers in music. In 1990, they moved to Vienna, Austria where she continued singing and writing songs with Idris and also hosted a local radio show; they lived in Vienna until 1997. Andrew Edge sang backing vocals on her BMG (Austria) CD LaLa Brooks & Friends in 1994. In 1999, she and Idris divorced.

Brooks moved back to the United States at the turn of the century and resides in the East Village. She is now a grandmother of three, has her own band and is still performing.

Discography

With the Crystals

Albums

NB. Nine of the twelve tracks on He's A Rebel also appeared on Twist Uptown

Singles

With Idris Muhammad

As a solo artist