‘American Idol’: Brooke White’s debut album returns to the Internet

“I had shopped Brooke to practically every label in town and no bites,” confessed fallen Idol Brooke White’s former manager, Tim Simms, in a phone interview today. “No one thought you could shop the good girl.”  As of today, however, Brooke White fans will be able to “shop the good girl” –- literally.  Brooke’s debut album, “Songs From the Attic,” which she co-wrote and recorded with Tim, has now been re-released on Brookewhite.com.

Over the course of their four years working and recording together, Tim has been everything to Brooke: producer, manager, guitar player, roadie and more.  “Its just a great, very, very unorthodox, professional” relationship, explained Tim, who remained in close communication with Brooke and her family throughout the competition. “It’s a great story,” he mused. “It’s like, movie of the week.”

When Tim says “movie of the week,” he is referring not to Brooke’s proclivity for waterworks but to their long, hard struggle for success. Tim first caught wind of Brooke when she was 19, through a friend who was teaching Brooke’s artist development class at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles.

“Tim, you’ve gotta hear this girl,” said the teacher. “She's got that ‘it’ factor.” Tim wasn’t so sure. “I hear that all the time,” he thought. 

With more than a little resistance, Tim agreed to meet the teen student. “I said, OK, my house, quarter to 3, don’t be late,” recalled Tim. When he first laid eyes on Brooke, Tim wasn’t convinced.  Her glasses, dress and diminutive presence made him see her as “little meek Brooke … like Mary Poppins, man!”  But for reasons he’s still unsure of, Tim recorded the first song Brooke ever played for him: “Come to My Rescue.” At the time, it was the only song in her repertoire.  Tim still prizes that first recording and recalls that performance as the moment he knew he’d found something special. “It was just like … when the hairs on the back of your neck go up.” 

Tim signed Brooke and began to tirelessly promote her. Eager to “jump on [the Norah Jones] bandwagon,” Tim and Brooke recorded a three-track piano-vocal demo tape, which Tim passed around to his industry contacts.

"You would have thought I was sending them, like, some alien ship,” chuckled Tim. 

Tim convinced some contacts at Island Records to attend Brooke’s show at a local pub called Molly Malone’s, but they went home unimpressed. “They were like, ‘We kinda hear what you hear, but we don’t know if the suits will hear it. … Why don’t you record some tracks?’ "

And so they did. “We tried one song and we thought, 'That sounds pretty good,' and we kept going,” Tim explained. Tim and Brooke co-wrote and recorded the entire album in Tim’s attic, and so they called it “Songs From the Attic.” They sought, above all, to make the album organic.  Aside from a couple of covers, the album was just an unknown young woman named Brooke, singing from her heart. The album made the rounds, but still, nobody was interested. “The industry, collectively, from New York to Nashville to L.A., everyone passed,” admitted Tim. “No one heard what I heard.”

But Tim kept fighting. “This was just raw talent that can’t be taught or bought,” he insisted.  Next came a Star 98.7 video contest. For less than $1,500 and with two days to shoot, Tim and Brooke recorded a music video and entered the competition.  Brooke made the top five and got to compete at the Key Club. “Everyone thought she was going to win,” Tim recalled.  She didn’t.

“She was ready to throw in the towel,” explained Tim. “Everyone is saying, ‘You can't sell the good girl,’ and I’m like, ‘You’re wrong. Brooke, you don’t have to change. She’s the nicest person I’ve ever met, period.”

Wasn’t there any place where a good girl could be free to be the good girl?

And that’s when it dawned on him. Brooke should audition for “American Idol.” When Brooke countered that she didn’t even know when auditions were, Tim went online to find out. “The last audition was in three days.” Brooke packed her bags and got on a plane. The rest is history. 

Now that Brooke has been eliminated, Tim is making “Songs From the Attic” available to the public. As of today, it is available on Brookewhite.com.  Needless to say, Tim couldn’t be more pleased about Brooke’s tremendous success. Plus, he adds, “I’m just happy to know that I wasn’t delusional the whole time.”

-- Stephanie Lysaght

(Photo courtesy Fox)

Comments

[sam]

Man, what a great story!!!!

[Jsmonkey]

Thanks for not giving up and sharing such a wonderful talent. Looking forward to the next CD and.... maybe a Christmas album?

[Leila]

Kudos to Tim for believing and fighting for her.

[jcw]

I have to admit that while I love David Cook and like David A's voice, I would buy something done by Brooke. She's interesting, different, talented, and easy to listen to- just like the Carly Simon, Carol King days. This girl's special! When the confidence she should have kicks in, watch out. Looking forward to actually buying music again and yes, someone mentioned a Christmas album! That would be great!

[MM]

I listened to the tracks on her website. Not half bad. Kind of like a modern-pop Carly Simon feel, which is nothing less than I'd expect. She knows who she is as an artist and that self-assurance definitely shows in the album. My only critique is that it's a little more polished and produced than I'd like. I think the acoustic vibe is her essence and the back-beats sort of distract from that. Now a live album, that would be fantastic!

[catherine]

I have purchased her studio versions on iTunes, will purchase 'Songs From the Attic' and am anxiously awaiting her next CD. Also, if anyone has the opportunity, listen to the song 'Come to My Rescue' mentioned in the article... it's ridiculously brilliant.

[Prince Sachdeva]

Brooke White is an amazing talent and to finish as Top 5 2008 American Idol TV Show is an accomplishment in and of itself. This the begining, not the end, of Brooke White, musician, singer, superstar!!!

[113]

i was so sad when brooke was voted out! but i hope she will release albums... she sounds GREAT and i love her voice and i would definitely buy her albums :)

[Yetmablue]

I am a fan! I thought she has a unique, distinct and powerful voice. She may not be the American Idol, but it doesn't matter. She is sincere, real and seems down to earth.

I have one comment and advice (if I may)....She has to be confident. Chin up Brooke. Don't be too hard on yourself. You've got talent lady!

[elmer glassing]

brooke white fan------you bet
american idol fan -------no more

[Maggie]

Brooke is one of the most personable performers to have ever competed on Idol and will, undoubtedly, be a huge success now that America has heard her sing from the heart. Has she given any thought to country music?

[570-742-3838]

I picked Brooke right from the start this season and stuck by her the whole way thru. So sorry to see her go. It wasn't her turn. I'll definitely buy her music. Keep it coming! Love you Brooke!

[Nancy J Moore]

I picked Brooke right from the start as my favorite and stuck with her the whole way thru. Very sorry to see her go. It WASN'T her turn. I will definitely buy her music. Keep it coming. Love you Brooke.

[stella]

I am glad she was voted off ;-). She is so annoying. I admit she sings ok. but her personality is terrible. I prefer Carly or Amanda than her.

[Mel]

Brooke White's the most original and refreshing contestant on AI this year!! the minute i saw her auditioning at Philly and heard her voice, i saw star quality in her. her voice is just soo soo unique and i've never heard that kinda voice in AI before! normally i'd go for rocker type contestants, but this year, i was drawn to Brooke. glad she made it to top 5, she's better off not winning so she can be free to do her own music the way she wants to. her hardwork, blood, sweat and especially her tears definitely paid off!! thanks for believing in her and not giving up on her, Tim!!!!

[tim smith]

As as Brooke White fan I caught the Carly Simon call into the a morning TV show where Ms. Simon was so encouraging to our fav IDOL contestant. As did so many, I loved the reading on :"Vain" but Carly said she liked the Brooke White version better than her own. High praise from a singer I always admired. I bought Songs from the Attic and loved it. I will be buying another as a gift to a friend. Tim, keep working with her (and yes thank you for discovering this gem and believing in her) And; if I may add, like some others have noted; Brooke you have no reason to doubt the strength of your talent. Keep the music coming. You are unique and wonderful to cut back and listen to . May not be IDOL (ergh) but the writing and and vocals show a sincere vulnerability that seems more rare than common. This is where you can really begin to shine and make your own place...stay cool but never lose the emotion.....
/best

[geewindu]

Brooke was deserving of the win for sure. But I'm actually kinda glad she didn't get it. I was still hoping for a top 3. Oh well I know she's gonna have a great future in the music buisness. I'd bet with the right songs on her cd that she'll outsell all previous contestants, Kelly, Clay, Carrie, & Daughtry. She is that good. I hope she can put the right combination of songs on her cd. While "I'm A Believer" was not the best vocally on her live performance I could care less. It was so fun! I hope she can put that on a future cd. A recorded version would bring down the house! To quote Brooke "Woooo!" :)

[Shanti]

Brooke White was beaten down by the judges or she would still be on Idol. She is already a star and they knew it. She looks and sounds like a star. I have never seen Paula be mean to anyone before and then she is mean to Brooke? Paula's comment about "you never start over" doesn't apply to a hit album. In the studio you always can start over. There is a definite niche for Brooke White in the "soft rock" market. American Idol is not about that genre'. Best of luck to my favorite Idol! She should have been in the top 3! I already downloaded the album and want more! Shanti

[steve]

I haven't bought an album in years. I will buy hers. Some other good singers on idol but nothing i would buy. And believe me i know music and voices. Plus that personality is very very intriguing. She is a guaranteed superstar.

[Ann]

Did Brooke White ever sing Imagine in the competition??

[Loves_Animals]

She sucks @ singing!!! She should have left faster, but @least she is didn't win!!!!!! =D