Darryl Tookes

To the formal music industry it all started in 1989 when Lifeguard, the first record by singer, composer, pianist, arranger Darryl Tookes, reached #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts. “He sings angelically” (NY Newsday). “Tookes stands out from the crowd.” (Billboard). Mr. Tookes has released seven CDs to critical acclaim. “Contemporary popular music doesn’t get any better than this! (The Music Paper). In addition to his solo career, Mr. Tookes has worked with Quincy Jones, Patti Austin, Phil Ramone, Arif Mardin, Leonard Bernstein, Sting, George Benson, Diana Ross, Dave Grusin, Luther Vandross, Lesley Gore, Roberta Flack, Steve Tyrell, Rod Stewart, Gerry Mulligan, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Michel LeGrand, Toninho Horta, Natalie Cole, Laurie Anderson, Todd Rundgren, Darlene Love and a host of music legends. Mr. Tookes has sung on commercials for Coca-Cola, US Army, AT&T, and been featured on Sesame Street. He has performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Café Carlyle, and at concert halls and nightclub venues worldwide. He has appeared on television shows Saturday Night Live, Today Show, Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Show With David Letterman, Morning Show With Regis Philbin, and others. An educator, Mr. Tookes teaches at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.