Bio
Discover Leslie Brooks' Engaging Music, Story, and History
Songwriter and recording artist, Leslie Brooks, is winning over the hearts of listeners as she reveals hers through the vocal deliveries of eclectic styles ranging from soulful ballads, country blues, folk, Americana, jazz (in three languages) and most recently writing Appalachian songs for her upcoming record, Breakdown, featured on Project SW Artist Portraits, a PBS series on YouTube. As an accomplished guitarist and seasoned entertainer, Brooks has traveled the U.S. and abroad writing songs along the way. She is a 3-time Kerrville Folk Finalist, winner of the B.W. Stevens Songwriter Award as well as a Dallas Songwriters Assoc. winner in Gospel & Country categories. She has extensive radio airplay and has been featured on Good Morning Texas and Good Day Dallas promoting her song, "Twister Alley," and her opening performance with Willie Nelson at a benefit concert for the stricken town of Lancaster...and later for Jarrell, TX.
After moving to SW VA, Virginia, Where Heaven Touches Earth was conceived with Blacksburg native, Ray Roberts. Their ballad became a house bill as the new State Song...decision still pending. Brooks has since re-recorded it and included it on Breakdown. In September of ’23, she had the honor of performing it to her new track with Senator Tim Kaine soloing on harmonica.
In 2013, she collaborated with poet Lanae Hall and released their 10-song Winter/Christmas compact disc, I Remember December (Spotify, YouTube). Brooks has also released the environmentally-charged, For Heaven's Sake, featured on the final episode of Pipeline Fighters, a nationally distributed documentary produced by video/photographer, Marino Coleman. The song honors the Native American prophecy of the Black Snake and the protection of our Sacred waterways.
Brooks' love for jazz began in her ten-year run in Dallas working the top jazz & blues clubs with North Texas State University jazz professors as her bandmates. She continues to embrace many musical genres in her writing and has recently composed songs on her mandolin and piano. Her six records, Passion Speaks Louder than Words, Texas Sessions, I Remember December, No Stopping the Message of Jesus, My Guitar, and her new release, Breakdown, are currently streaming on all platforms worldwide.
“Writing songs of Appalachia is most rewarding; as I am returning to my roots honoring my Great Grandfather, a KY coal miner. And as a direct descendant of James Patton, I am especially honored to write songs for my beautiful home State...Virginia!”