Foster Brooks

Foster Brooks' career began in radio, most notably with station in his hometown of Louisville. He was a staff announcer, but his deep voice was well-suited for singing as well. Brooks gained fame when he was featured on emergency broadcasts by WHAS. Singer discovered Brooks in 1969, giving the comedian his major break. Como chose Brooks to open for him, and when a manager balked at the newcomer, Como threatened to refuse to perform. The manager acquiesced, and Brooks was an instant hit. He regularly appeared on television programs in the 1970s . Though he had only one basic character, he exhibited such extraordinary timing and subtlety that he was instantly recognized as one of the great comic performers of the time. As his "Lovable Lush" character, Brooks usually portrayed a conventioneer who had a few too many drinks — not completely falling-down drunk, but inebriated enough that he would mix up his words to comedic delight. Brooks drew upon his own battles with for his act, but the irony was that during his period of greatest fame, Brooks eschewed alcohol almost entirely. He gave up drinking to win a bet in 1964. "Fellow made me a $10 bet I couldn't quit, and I haven't had a drink since. At the time I needed the $10," Brooks said.