Dennis Brooks, an enthusiastic promoter (in every sense of the word) of Memphis blues and roots music, passed away Tuesday night of a heart attack. He was 59.
Brooks was a past president of the Beale Street Blues Society, which, among other things, sponsored local blues acts in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge, including hometown winner Richard Johnston. In addition to Johnston, Brooks was involved in the careers of many area blues artists, including Blind Mississippi Morris and Daniel “Slick” Ballinger. Most recently, Brooks had been promoting concerts at Neil’s in Midtown.
A public “Friends of Dennis Brooks” Facebook page has been set up in his memory.
