Charlene Brooks
“Charlene Brooks sings Streisand” is sold out for the November 7th show at the Skokie Theatre (don’t despair, she’ll be back, just keep watching the Ageless Events Calendar for new shows). Ageless North Shore asked Charlene about the show and her unique career.
Why does Barbra Streisand’s music continue resonate so powerfully with people? What connection do you feel with her music?
CB: I have felt connected to Barbra’s music since the first time I heard “People” on my corner grocery store’s Muzak when I was 10! I had never heard any voice like that. My mother came home with the Funny Girl album, and I realized that if I practiced hard enough, I could sing these songs too. Barbra became my first voice teacher!
I am not from New York, but I am a Chicago Jew, and my inflection was naturally similar. Many people thought that I resembled her, so it furthered the connection I have always felt. I love drama, and her songs are always dramatic. I was a very serious young girl who wanted to be funny, and singing her songs became a strong outlet for me.
Barbra Streisand
The response to “Charlene Brooks sings Streisand” has been wonderful! So many people love Streisand, and are thrilled to have a show like this which is so accessible. Many of the people who bought tickets are fans of mine who love Barbra, and some are people who don’t know me yet, and just love Streisand.
In the bio on your website, you say that always wanted to be a singer. What are your earliest memories of music?
CB: When I was young latchkey child, I was very shy, and sang and danced in the privacy of my living room, knowing that performing was the one thing I wanted to do. I sang along with the albums of my favorite singers and Broadway shows. At 19, I taught dancing, jazz and Ballroom. I bartered lessons with a woman who was a voice teacher, and she insisted I sing in front of an audience at a recital. This is where my parents heard me sing for the first time! I was 20. My mother cried and couldn’t believe it!
Being on stage was where I felt I belonged. Someone at this recital was a real estate entrepreneur and owned hotels with clubs with live music, offered me a job, and it all began! I had no idea how to put a band together or how to proceed, but I did anyway.
Since then, I have created one-woman shows, sung in stage productions, jazz and Cabaret in clubs, country music at state fairs, pop and rock at weddings and corporate events, and liturgy in temple!
People have asked me “what kind of singer are you? I used to wonder what kind of singer would I be when I grew up? Well, now I know. Every kind!
You are the cantor for Congregation Bene Shalom. Can you describe this unique congregation and the spiritual path that led to it?
CB: After my children were born, I joined Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie which is a Reform temple for both hearing and deaf congregants.. Most of the members are hearing, but everything we say and everything I sing is sign language interpreted. Very cool! The Rabbi, Douglas Goldhamer, is very inspiring, and when I was asked to sing for a Chanukah Family Service, I loved the experience of singing for our congregation.
Both of my parents were survivors of the Holocaust. They instilled in me a strong Jewish identity but not a lot of religious education. Worshiping and studying at Bene Shalom had become a fulfilling part of my life so I gratefully accepted the offer of becoming the Cantorial Soloist. I have learned so much and feel a spirituality I’d never known before. It has provided a great balance in my life.
What’s next? Do you have any projects that you’re working on? Upcoming performances? New ventures and adventures?
CB: I am reworking one show into a play, “LIFE STINKS!”, and other things my mother taught me…, This show is based on quotes and stories about my mother and family friends who were all survivors. Along with the many heart wrenching stories were also amazingly funny ones as well. In fact, my mother has given me more one-liners and funny quotes than I can put into one show! Even funnier when you realize she has no sense of humor!
Custom Cabaret: “Your Life in Song!” is another business close to my heart. This is where I perform personalized shows, usually about 30 minutes, at a special event either in a large venue or even at someone’s home.
I write the patter based on the guest or guests of honor, be it a birthday, anniversary, or engagement party. I get the information from those close to the honorees, and weave that into their favorite songs. It makes a great gift, and really makes the evening special.
I will continue to sing as Bene Shalom’s Cantorial Soloist, perfoming new and favorite shows at the Skokie Theater and other theaters, as well as Custom Cabaret at private parties. When the time comes to hit the road with my play, I will make sure that I keep all these things going. I need the balance, and never want to stop!
You can hear Charlene Brooks here.
