Brooks familiar with music scene

If you’ve ever been to one of the ArtStrolls on the second Friday of the month, stopped out to hear some acoustic or Bluegrass at Southside or been to a live concert at the state park, chances are you’ve seen John Brooks play.

Brooks was born in and went to high school in Denver, then went to Powell and worked with Marathon Pipeline on the summer crew and remained there, attending college at Northwest. His wife, Trudi, is from Powell and the two recently celebrated their 49th anniversary.

As for how he came to Thermopolis, Brooks explained that he was working with Marathon Production at Grass Creek in 1974. He had the option to move to Meeteetse or Thermopolis, and he chose the latter.

A familiar face at musical events, as he sets up audio for concerts and plays regularly during the ArtStrolls and Southside jam sessions, Brooks also coached Little League for a year or two and has played softball here. He was also an EMT for several years back in the 70’s and has been with Masonic Malta Lodge No. 17 since 1985.

As for his being the sound setup man at concerts, Brooks said he had his own band and bought a few things for them, then was approached by someone to set up sound fro an event. “Over the years I’ve just accumulated a ton of stuff, from small scale to medium or large stuff. I try to keep up with the technology and the digital stuff.”

He’s also become a big fan of the Hot Springs County Senior Center and the services they provide, and is the president of the Golden Age Club.

He retired from Marathon in 2000. Following that, he substituted in the school district and went to work for the Hot Springs County Assessor’s Office before joining Gas Ventures, a job where he held nearly every position in the almost eight years he worked there, and from which he retired in 2015.

As for improvement to the town, Brooks said it seems like, for the last 15-20 years, every few years a survey company comes in and makes recommendations as far as facilities, conventions and cleaning up the town. However the top recommendations never get done. He’s happy to see there is cleanup north of town, but noted there are still some things that need attention in town.

“I’ve really enjoyed the town,” he said of Thermopolis. “Our kids were both raised here and made it through school here.” Brooks will almost certainly be among those attending the opener to the Sound of Summer concert series in Hot Springs State Park this evening (Thursday) at 7 p.m.

The Independent Record staff started this series in our June 6 edition with a story about Nancy Magrigal. The series will continue on an every other week basis when space allows.