Darryl Tookes is a prolific composer, lyricist, pianist, singer and arranger who is recognized throughout the music world as a truly original, uncompromising artist. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Tookes received a full scholarship to study physics at Florida A&M University, which he accepted, and graduated in three years magna cum laude. During that time he also matriculated at MIT, and was offered admission to medical school. While still a college student, Mr. Tookes met and befriended several members of the group Earth, Wind and Fire, who took him under their wings and further ignited his imagination.
Darryl Tookes has sung at Carnegie Hall with Roberta Flack, recorded and toured with Sting, and performed at the White House for President and Ms. Clinton. Mr. Tookes sang on the recording and the PBS Television show Great Performances with Leonard Bernstein conducting West Side Story, and on Soulful Messiah with Quincy Jones. Mr. Tookes has worked with producer Phil Ramone, the composer and pianist Dave Grusin, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Laurie Anderson, Carly Simon, Diana Ross and many others.
Darryl Tookes has to his credit seven recordings as a leader, and is a featured artist on O Great Spirit with Gerry Mulligan; In Love’s Time with Dave Valentin, Salute! – The Official WW2 Tribute CD along with Kenny Rogers and Crystal Gayle; and Foot On The Road with Tonhino Horta. Mr. Tookes’ debut solo recording, Lifeguard, a Tookes composition, co-produced with Danny Leake, reached #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.
Darryl Tookes is presently on tour with Grammy award winning producer Steve Tyrell, whose forthcoming release will be a tribute to the music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Joining Mr. Tookes in this collaboration are Dionne Warwick, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Martina McBride, and Burt Bacharch himself on the Bacharach and David classic What The World Needs Now Is Love.
Darryl Tookes is featured singer on a new four song EP entitled, My Daughter, produced by Charles Wallert, the writer of the title song.
Along with this, the Darryl Tookes Band is working with 14 time Grammy award winning engineer Eric Schilling on their new CD, which will be a collection of new Darryl Tookes songs, featuring Tookes on piano and vocals, and the members of the Darryl Tookes Band: Rodolfo Zuñigá on drums, Jean Caze on trumpet, Rolando Grooscors on guitar, Mike Bordelon on upright bass, and David Fernandez on Saxophone.
Solo Discography
Darryl Tookes – 1989
Lifeguard (s) – 1990
Moods (ep) – 1991
Merry Christmas Darling (s) – 1993
Rendezvous – 1994
Travels Of An Ordinary Man – 1995
Red Bird – 1999
Babies And Balloons – 2001
New England Morning (with Joseph Joubert) – 2002
Journey To The Hieros Gamos (Darryl Tookes Band) – 2006
My Daughter (ep) – 2008
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