Elkie Brooks Elkie Brooks, who was born Elaine Bookbinder, on 26 February 1946, a bakery owner's daughter from Cavendish Road, Salford, was almost certain to follow many of her family members into show business - Tony Mansfield, her brother, was leader of the then well-known group, "The Dakotas"; another brother had a quartet; her uncle, Nat Bookbinder was a bandleader in Manchester, and uncles Brian and Alan were in the pop music business as a group called "The Chapters". She adopted the stage name "Elkie Brooks" in the 1960s to make her way as a singer of jazz and rhythm and blues music around the North West of England, eventually joining Robert Palmer in the Vinegar Joe group in the 1970s. Though much acclaimed, the group failed to grab headlines, and as a result Elkie went on to release her own solo debut album 'Rich Man's Woman', quickly followed up by 'Two Days Away'. One song from this album, 'Pearl's A Singer', became probably her best known song. From this point she never looked back. She began to develop an almost cult following, and though rarely in top listings during the 80s and 90s, she maintained a respected position and devoted fan club, which has persisted till today when she performs mostly live shows in clubs around the country, with occasional big tour venues at National Concert Hall level.