Brooks O'Dell was born Brooks O'Dell Johnson on June 16, 1933, in Philadelphia. He was an R&B and soul singer with a career that spanned several decades, known for his uptown big-city soul stylings reminiscent of his idol, Chuck Jackson. Raised as a Seventh Day Adventist, he attended Pine Forge Academy in Philadelphia and later Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where he majored in music and religion. His singing career was delayed by military service, but he began performing professionally in 1955 in Chicago.

In the late 1950s, O'Dell joined Carl Holmes' group, The Commanders, as a featured vocalist. The Commanders were popular on the society circuit and backed artists on the Cameo-Parkway labels. Their success led to tours in Canada and Europe, particularly in Italy, where O'Dell released his first single, a cover of Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," on the Italian Durium label.

O'Dell's most notable chart success came with the song "Watch Your Step," which peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the R&B chart in November 1963. Despite this success, his chart presence was limited, and he became a cult figure among soul music aficionados. In the 1970s, he joined Swamp Dogg's Mankind label alongside artists like Freddie North and Doris Duke.

Throughout his career, Brooks O'Dell released several singles across various labels, including Durium, Gold Records, Bell, Columbia, and Mankind. His discography includes songs such as "I'm Your Man," "It Hurts Me to My Heart," and "Predicament #2." In 2008, an anthology of his work titled "I'm Your Man – The Anthology 163-1972" was released, highlighting his contributions to the soul and R&B genres.