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'Salute!' Stamford singer raises his voice to honor veterans

By Nadia Lerner
Staff Writer

July 3, 2005

With music in his heart, composer, arranger and singer Darryl Tookes is clearly his own person.

"I have been pretty much in self-imposed isolation and exile," says the solo recording artist who resides in Stamford with wife, Donna, and their four children. "Many artists do that to continue to create in their own underground space, away from the trappings of (tempting) possibilities."

Still, Tookes, who has six albums to his credit, admits he's ready to re-emerge. "I'm not doing anything different, just doing it stronger, longer and more determined."

The performer, whose sensual, haunting music is inspired by celebrated composers like Leonard Bernstein, Henry Mancini, Michel LeGrand and Burt Bacharach, sings on the newly released "Salute! The World War II Tribute Album" (Curb Records). Featured with Tookes are 11 other recording artists including Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, The Judds, Marie Osmond, LeAnn Rimes and Lee Greenwood.

The album pays homage to American military forces who served at home and abroad during World War II. Songs recorded are those popularized during that era. Among them, "Till Then" (Tookes); "You Always Hurt the One You Love" (Gayle); "The Nearness of You" (Rogers); "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Osmond) and "God Bless America" (LeAnn Rimes).

Tookes, who began composing at age 8, credits his spirituality and vocal career to his late mother, Leona Washington. The coloratura soprano performed classical, jazz and spiritual singing and retired young to raise her family. Tookes also attributes his talent to his maternal grandmother, contralto Benveneta Washington, who appeared on Broadway and in films and soloed with the Hall Johnson Choir. He admits he didn't know much about his mother or grandmother's professional accomplishments before researching their career archives a few years ago.

His mom wanted her kids to be happy, healthy and follow their dreams, he says. Despite his mother's death in 1979, Tookes feels she's still a part of his life, particularly on stage. "Psychics see her presence around me when I'm performing," he says.

That's not to slight his dad, Hansel Tookes, with whom he continues strong ties. His father, a former golf and football coach, is athletic director emeritus at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

"He's one of the true cornerstones of my life," says the Manhattan-born singer, who was raised in Florida and returned yearly to summer in the Bronx, N.Y., with his mom's relatives. "My father taught me how to survive, be resilient, to know who you are. He has always prepared me for the long road of life."

More inspirations on the music front are rock guitarist/singer Todd Rundgren and jazz/pop singer Nancy Wilson.

Tookes calls Rundgren "my biggest hero, the icon of my teenage years. He's the kind of genius when you figure out what he did, you can't figure out how and why he did it."

As for Wilson, if Tookes were to take an album of one singer to a deserted island, it would be her. "Nancy's approach to singing has been the most informative to me," he says. "She has been in the jazz idiom, but didn't limit herself to jazz standards."

Tookes graduated magna cum laude with a degree in physics from Florida A&M, did a short fellowship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and was accepted to medical school, where he planned to conduct medical research.

Still, music was never far from his mind. Gifted with a four-octave range, Tookes found his niche in singing, composing and playing piano. Piano influences include jazz pianists Oscar Peterson and Keith Jarrett.

Moving to New York City after graduating college, Tookes courted his musical passion, joining Rundgren on various music projects. Later gigs teamed him with Sting on the British rocker's "Brand New Day" album and a subsequent tour. Tookes also sang on two "West Side Story" Grammy Award-winning albums and in hundreds of radio and TV commercials. Another formidable engagement was at the Clinton White House.

"I'm the kind of guy who treats all God's children the same -- kings and queens," he says. "I don't mean I'm not grateful for these opportunities that have come my way. We give the impression we do everything with ease, but we work so hard for it. If you take a million people and train them all on cello, you won't get 15 Yo Yo Mas."

More recent projects include his pop album, "New England Morning," with piano accompanist/orchestrator Joseph Joubert. The recording was lauded by Ebony magazine as one of the "hottest in Black Music."

Tookes was invited to participate in the "Salute!" album by its executive producer, Rod McBrien of Avon, who helped initiate a fund-raiser for the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Many of the performers on the album felt a patriotic connection to that earlier wartime period and wanted to be included in this project, says Tookes.

The recording artists and producers will contribute 50 percent of royalties from album sales to The American Experience Foundation, benefiting veterans' organizations. Dispersal of funds will be based on directives from an advisory committee that includes Sen. Robert Dole and Brigadier General Wilma Vaught.

"Sometimes we forget," says Tookes. "It's not just the heroes, but also the families who have to live in grief for the rest of their lives. I can only say, 'God bless them for what they did.' "
Copyright © 2005, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.

Darryl Tookes is the Entertainment Industry’s Best-kept Secret

(PRWEB) June 26, 2005 -- Perhaps that is what makes Darryl the formidable musician he has become, and why his personal success has so outweighed his professional fame. For as long as anybody can recall, the scales have been tipped concerning trend vs. talent – though many will argue that the drum of authenticity has been beaten, that a real demand has been made for substance over style, the music industry has yet to lend itself to anything original, intelligent and spirited. Until now.

Recently, Darryl Tookes’ breakthrough album New England Morning was listed among “the latest and hottest in black music” by Ebony Magazine’s July 2005 publication. This acknowledgement is concurrent with the release of the World War II tribute album “Salute!” demonstrating Darryl’s singing abilities in the standard “Till Then” (other artists featured on this album include LeAnn Rimes, Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Marie Osmond and Lee Greenwood). Darryl will be appearing at the Gramophone Shop in New Canaan, Ct. on July 2nd to autograph CD’s, following the album’s scheduled release on June 28th of this year.

Though Tookes’ music is only now gaining the notoriety it has for so long deserved, he is no stranger to the perils and perks encumbered by the working artist. Blessed with a four-octave range and perfect pitch, Darryl Tookes has composed and performed across an ever-widening musical spectrum. He has sung before a presidential audience at an exclusive White House performance, toured with multi-platinum solo recording artist Sting, contributed to two Grammy award winning West Side Story albums, and is an award winning composer and performer of musical sequences for thousands of radio and television spots. His discography includes six solo albums produced by both major and independent record labels, including New England Morning, Babies and Balloons, Red Bird, Travels of an Ordinary Man, Rendezvous and his self-titled debut Darryl Tookes. When asked to comment on the quality of Darryl’s versatile craft, Ambient Recording’s Mark Conese has said, “Darryl Tookes and Joseph Joubert (his collaborative pianist and professional companion) are about as talented as any two can human beings get.”

Truer words were never spoken. But are audiences finally prepared to embrace such a precocious, yet brilliantly elusive art form?

We think so.

New England Morning Named Among the Latest and Hottest in Black Music in EBONY Magazine’s July 2005 Issue

“Just in time for cool summer listening,” TBM Records’ president/producer Tanya Bickley announced today that Darryl Tookes’ solo album New England Morning, featuring Joseph Joubert, is listed in the July 2005 EBONY magazine as “the latest and hottest in Black Music!”

It’s a busy month for Darryl Tookes who is one of the twelve recording artists featured in Salute! The World War II Tribute Album, which will be in stores on Tuesday, June 28th. Darryl, along with performers Crystal Gayle, Lee Greenwood, Lou Christie, and Johnny Kemp will be appearing at the June 28th Washington, D.C. Salute! Album Launch at Arlington National Cemetery. Back home in Connecticut, Darryl will be promoting Salute! at the Gramophone Shop in New Canaan, CT for a June 30th Launch party and an album signing on Saturday, July 2nd at 1:00 PM.

Tuesday June 21, 5:21 pm ET

"Salute! The World War II Tribute Album" will be in stores Tuesday, June 28th!

Darryl Tookes, LeAnn Rimes, Kimberly Locke, Crystal Gayle, and Lee Greenwood Among Artists Participating in Curb Records' World War II Tribute Album

Album Launch Party Set For June 28 at The Women's Memorial in Washington DC

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Country music legends Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood, among many other musical performers, have added their timeless voices to an album of World War II era music that will be released on June 28 on Curb Records. "Salute! The World War II Tribute Album" features popular songs from the World War II era performed by some of America's leading contemporary recording artists. The mission of The Tribute Album is to provide a lasting tribute to the exceptional generation of Americans who served both in the trenches as well as on the home front through a pivotal moment of American history. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Album will be donated to the American Experience Foundation to benefit America's veterans.

Senator Bob Dole and Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Wizards, and Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, founder of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, are hosting the launch party for The Tribute Album on June 28th from 6 - 8 PM ET at the Women's Memorial, located at the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood will be in attendance for the release party.

Greenwood is proud to be a part of the collection. "WWII was a huge turning point in our Nation's history, and being able to pass music from that time period to future generations is vital to the legacy. I am honored to be a part of this project."

Mike Curb and Rod McBrien are the Executive Producers of The Tribute Album. McBrien was inspired to produce The Tribute Album when asked to create a fundraiser for the World War II Memorial. Senator Bob Dole, while spearheading the efforts to build the Memorial, was instrumental in encouraging the production of the The Tribute Album. President Bill Clinton, who signed the law authorizing the establishment of the National World War II Memorial, also lent his support. A partnership with Mike Curb of Curb Records brought the Album to reality.

Featured songs include: "You Always Hurt the One You Love" performed by Crystal Gayle "Rum and Coca-Cola" performed by Johnny Kemp "The Nearness of You" performed by Kenny Rogers "Cow Cow Boogie" performed by The Judds "Till the End of Time" performed by Lee Greenwood "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" performed by John Pizzarelli "Over the Rainbow" performed by Kimberley Locke "Dance With A Dolly (With a Hole in Her Stockin')" performed by Zachary Richard "Till Then" performed by Darryl Tookes "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" performed by Marie Osmond "Dream" performed by Lou Christie "God Bless America" performed by LeAnn Rimes Rod McBrien, producer of "Salute! The World War II Tribute Album," is one of the premier director/producers of American music today. Rod McBrien Productions is located at 317 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024.

Curb Records is the home of many of today's hottest acts including superstars Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Wynonna, Hank Williams, Jr. and Kimberley Locke.
Source: Curb Records