Elkie Brooks facts: Singer's age, songs, husband, children and career revealed

1 March 2025, 19:37

Elkie Brooks stands as one of Britain's most enduring vocal talents, with a career spanning over six decades.

Elkie Brooks transformed from a teenage jazz singer into the powerhouse vocalist we know today. Her distinctive husky voice first captured mainstream attention in the mid-1970s with hits like 'Pearl's a Singer' and 'Don't Cry Out Loud'.

After finding fame with rock band Vinegar Joe alongside Robert Palmer, Brooks carved out a remarkable solo career that's seen her release more than 20 albums.

Though never chasing trends or flashy fame, her incredible vocal range and authentic performance style have earned her the well-deserved nickname 'The British Queen of Blues'.

1. How old is Elkie Brooks?

   

   Elkie Brooks was born on February 25th, 1945. She celebrated her 80th birthday in 2025.

   She was born in Broughton, Salford, near Manchester, England, as Elaine Bookbinder into a Jewish family.

   Her parents were Marjorie and Charles Bookbinder. Her father Charles was a baker by trade, and the family lived above their baker's shop in Broughton, Salford.

2. How did she get her start in music?

   

   Elkie Brooks got her start in music remarkably early. She began singing as a child and was performing publicly by age 13, showing a natural talent that was impossible to ignore.

   By 15, she was already singing professionally, stepping onto the Manchester club circuit where she cut her teeth as a performer.

   Her big break came when she won a talent contest, which led to her appearing on TV's Opportunity Knocks. This exposure helped her secure bookings as a support act for some impressive names in the 1960s - she toured with The Beatles and The Animals, gaining valuable stage experience along the way.

   During this early period, she was singing mostly jazz and blues, developing that distinctive husky voice that would later become her trademark.

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   She then joined the band Dada before forming Vinegar Joe with Robert Palmer in the early 1970s. Though Vinegar Joe only lasted a few years, it was an important stepping stone in her career.

   It wasn't until after Vinegar Joe disbanded that Elkie truly found her solo voice, eventually breaking through with her 1977 album Two Days Away, which featured her signature hit 'Pearl's a Singer'.

3. What are her most famous songs?

   

   Elkie Brooks - Pearl's A Singer

   Elkie Brooks has quite a few notable hits that have stood the test of time. Her most famous song is undoubtedly 'Pearl's a Singer' from 1977, which became her breakthrough hit and remains the track she's most associated with.

   Another massive hit was 'Sunshine After the Rain', which reached the UK Top 10 that same year.

   She also had significant success with 'Don't Cry Out Loud' and 'Lilac Wine', both showcasing her exceptional vocal range and emotional delivery.

   'Fool If You Think It's Over' was another chart success for her (also a hit for Chris Rea), as was her cover of 'No More the Fool' which actually became her highest-charting UK single, reaching number 5 in 1986.

   'Warm and Tender Love' and 'Guitar Man' are other fan favourites from her extensive catalogue.

4. Is she married and does she have children?

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   Yes, Elkie Brooks has been married twice. Her first marriage was to guitarist Pete Gage, who she met when they were both part of the band Vinegar Joe in the early 1970s.

   They married in 1976 but later divorced.

   She then married her sound engineer Trevor Jordan in 1978, and they've been together ever since – that's over 45 years now. Trevor became her manager and has been a steady presence throughout her career.

   As for children, Elkie and Trevor have two sons together: Jermaine (born 1979) and Joseph (born 1986).