Wayne Baker Brookes

Barry Middleton (BM) Interview with Wayne Baker Brookes (Wayne) - July 2010

BM: Your first experiences of the blues must be pretty unique with your family being so accomplished on the blues scene, was there a down side as a youngster?

Wayne: My dad wasn’t around as much as a 9 to 5 dad but I knew he was an entertainer so it wasn’t as bad because I wanted to be an entertainer

BM: Is Chicago still the hotbed of the blues as were lead to believe in the UK?

Wayne: Not as it used to be in the 50's 60's 70's but it’s still a hotbed because everybody still comes here to try and make it in the blues world

BM: Do you think the blues needs to evolve to stay relevant?

Wayne : Yes I do, Blues needs to breathe. If blues wouldn't have evolved with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and others we would not have Rock and Roll which leads to other genres of music we enjoy today

BM: It is widely reported you were the first authentic Chicago bluesman to mix the genres of Hip Hop & House Music with Blues, what sort of a reception did this get from the elder statesmen of the blues in Chicago?

Wayne: Not sure but some look at it as innovating and can appreciate keeping the blues part "real blues" and then adding on to it...

BM: What other styles of music have you drawn inspiration from?

Wayne: Soul, Funk, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, & believe or not Country

BM: Do you have any plans to tour the UK & Europe?

Wayne: Not at the moment but I’ve toured Europe with my band on successful tours to where Europe wants me to move there...but I have yet to play in the UK and I cannot wait to perform there

BM: You are a singer/songwriter what drives your song writing?

Wayne: Personal experiences, my passion for writing, I actually dreams songs

BM: Why do you feel that young people are not as attracted to the Blues as other Genres?

Wayne: Blues mostly tell what you don’t have, heartbreak, down and out stories...other popular music mostly talk about what they have and how they got it.

BM: Where would you like to go with your music?

Wayne: Everywhere..The whole globe

BM: Is there any instrument you would like to add to your line up that you think would enhance your sound?

Wayne: I think I’ve tried everything..lol

BM: Which is the biggest festival you have played?

Wayne: Chicago Blues Fest, 2. North Sea Jazz Fest, 3. New Orleans Jazz Fest 4. King Biscuit (Arkansas Blues and Heritage, and others worldwide)

BM: If you had the opportunity to play with any blues artist dead or alive, live on stage, who would it be?

Wayne: BB King, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Freddie King (I had a dream I was trading licks with Freddie), Eric Clapton, SRV, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, Little Walter, & The Rolling Stones (they were a blues band at one point)

BM: What do you do to relax when you have some spare time away from music?

Wayne: Hang out with friends and cook food

BM: What was the first gig that you played and who with?

Wayne: Of course it was with my Father, other than that my first gig away from the family was with JC Clements & the Buzz filling in for my buddy Frank Blinkal

Thank you Wayne for taking the time to answer my questions

Barry Middleton (Chairperson)
Nottingham Blues Society UK