Austin Young and
Barry Pett's first feature documentary, "Queen
of The Boogie" is a moving portrait of the incredible
and hilarious Miss Hadda Brooks. (1916-2002) Brooks
was a pianist, known as 'Queen of the Boogie'
and a vocalist knows as 'Empress of the Torch Blues,' whom the New York
times called, "eloquent in the subtleties of shading and phrasing
that can make each song a gem." She had a reputation for berating
her audiences, who loved every minute of it. "The kids came in
there every night to here me cuss 'em out," Brooks says. But then,
Ms Brooks would sit at the piano and bare her soul - her deep well worn
voice taking her audience on a journey of love lost and gained. "I
can look in your eyes when I'm singing. I was singing "Dreams"
and this old guy with his old lady... just put his arms around her.
She laid back on his shoulder and they received every bit of what they
wanted out of that song... that's where I want to go. That's where I
do go," says Brooks. And she delivers. She'll have you laughing
and crying. Called an "American Treasure" by Bonnie
Raitt, her career spanned more than 50 years. She was the first
black woman to have her own TV show. In the 1960's she left the US-
"because of Elvis and The Beatles"
and later retired. In her 80's she was signed with Virgin's
Point Blank Records and finally got the recognition she deserved.
She sang to packed houses and hung out at Hollywoods hippest clubs and
Bars, where everyone knew her- Daddy's, Gold
Finger, The Viper Room, and the Roosevelt
Hotel. Queen of the Boogie will spark your
love affair with the legendary Hollywood icon, Miss Hadda Brooks.