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My Life in Five Songs

Factual: Life Stories

Music

Phil Cunningham talks to a series of musicians about their lives, careers and influences.

Phil Cunningham talks to a series of musicians about their lives, careers and influences and asks them to pick five songs that were milestones on the way.

My Life in Five Songs: Series 4

My Life in Five Songs: Series 4: Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks

07/02/2012

Series 4

BBC Radio 4 Extra - My Life in Five Songs, Series 4, Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks introduces Phil Cunningham to her five favourite songs.

Elkie Brooks tells Phil Cunningham about the songs that have been milestones along the journey of her 50-year career. From February 2012.

With hit singles with songs like 'Pearl's A Singer', 'Fool if You Think it's Over' and 'Lilac Wine', Elkie Brooks is one of our most successful female artists.

As a fifteen-year-old she entered and won a singing competition which launched her professional career. Elkie's first big break came when she joined the Rock/Jazz fusion band Dada and then she joined Robert Palmer in the Rock' n Roll band Vinegar Joe in the early 1970's. She was The Melody Maker face of 1973.

Pearl's a Singer was a million seller for her in 1977 and several hit singles followed. 

Talking to Phil Cunningham she reveals her love of paragliding, the important part Humphrey Lyttleton played in her life and how she shared a stage with The Beatles. 

Still singing and touring Elkie has her own band and will be performing in Scotland in February.

Phil Cunningham opens the programme with Pearl's a Singer and Elkie goes on to pick these 5 songs.

Mavis Staples - Down in Mississippi

Buddy Guy - 74 Years Young

Steely Dan - Reeling In The Years

Ray Charles - Drown In My Own Tears

Bad Company - Seagull

Phil closes the programme with the track Purple Rain from her 2010 album Powerless.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Some of Scotlands best loved musicians tell us about the music that's important to them.

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