About Us
Danny Brooks & Lil Miss Debi left Milton Ontario Canada in December of 2010 and never looked back. This duo have resided in Llano Texas since January 2011, and tour extensively throughout North America. Their music is a blend of southern soul/rock/blues/americana and they even add a little reggae, gospel, cajun and mountain music to the mix as well. As a duo playing multiple instruments they are told they sound like a 4 or 5 piece band. Danny plays multiple guitars (7) in various tunings, a bass stomp board and a harmonica rack. Lil Miss Debi keeps the groove deep on her home-made snare along with the double scooped bass cajon. Their harmonies are unique and soulful, earning them the name “Burlap and Silk”.
Danny grew up on Hank Williams, Solomon Burke, Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker and the Allman Brothers, Blind Boys of Alabama and Reverend Jumpin' Jim Jericho. Greg, Danny's older brother's recordings of Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Joe Tex, Bobby Blue Bland and Sam Cooke added to his musical blend!
One night many years ago Danny had the privilege of singing with the iconic and renowned folk/bluesman Brownie McGhee and his band. At the end of the 5 songs, Brownie said “Son fo' a white boy, you sho' ‘nuff have a sun tan on the inside.” This was during a very dark period in Danny’s life and was instrumental in Danny going to rehab.
Danny has been honored to have worked with some of the best music producers, including: "Richard Bell" former keyboardist for Janis Joplin/The Band; Lou Erlanger, former original guitarist for Mink DeVille; Jim Dickinson/keyboardist who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin: Johnny Sandlin, legendary Capricorn Records producer, who brought me down to Decatur Alabama to record 'No Easy Way Out' with the Muscle Shoals musicians...David Hood, Spooner Oldham, Scott Boyer, Kelvin Holly, Bill Stewart, Bonnie Bramlett, Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker, The Muscle Shoals Horns and rounding it out with Carla Russell and Tina Swindell. It was a thrilling experience and a highlight in my career. Frazier Mohawk/Elektra Rcd's/Buffalo Springfield and publicist for the Beatles in the 60's.
'Listening to Danny Brooks is like driving out of Memphis, TN on a sunny Saturday morning into the Mississippi Delta listening to WDIA. It's one of those things where time stands still. A dash of Eddie Hinton, Solomon Burke, Rev. James Cleveland and Howlin' Wolf are all ingredients in Danny's soulful musical stew'. states Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters. Maybe Greg Quill, noted musician and arts writer for the Toronto Star, sums it up the best: 'This is Roots music of great distinction.'
Lil Miss Debi and daughter Dee Dee started ZenBarZ. a cottage industry that produces hand poured therapeutic essential oil soaps as well as whipped body butters, beard butters and lip balms. All products are made with organic and therapeutic grade ingredients. ZenBarZ mission statement: Cleaning up the world, one bar of soap at a time!