02/06/2026
I was featured in the Butler Eagle yesterday.
Valentine’s Day has never just been about flowers or candy for Ron Brooks. It’s been about creating memories.
Brooks, a longtime barbershop singer and entertainer, is once again delivering singing valentines this year through his company, Brooks Entertainment, reviving a decades-long tradition.
The Cranberry Men’s Chorus, which Brooks directs, opted not to offer group singing valentines this year, following a busy Christmas season.
However, Brooks decided to go solo for the holiday by performing one-on-one singing telegrams across the area.
“I’ve been singing barbershop since I was 11 years old,” Brooks said. “Singing has always been a big part of my life.”
His involvement with singing valentines dates to the early 1990s, when he helped introduce the concept to local barbershop groups.
Brooks’ experience goes back even further. He began performing singing telegrams professionally in the early 1980s. He eventually launched his own family-friendly entertainment business in 1997.
“I wanted control over the quality of what I was doing,” he said. “I wanted it to be classy, heartfelt and something people could feel good about.”
Over the years, Brooks has delivered songs in offices, schools, restaurants and businesses, often catching recipients completely off guard. A typical delivery includes a balloon, a large Hershey’s Kiss and a live performance of a classic love song selected by the sender.
“People are embarrassed at first,” Brooks said with a laugh. “All the attention is on them. But by the end, they’re usually really thankful.”
Recipients choose from a list of roughly 15 songs, spanning decades from the 1950s through the 1970s. Brooks will occasionally accommodate newer requests.
Not all of the requests are romantic. Some are sent to parents, friends and even coworkers.
“What makes it special is the emotion behind the song,” Brooks said. “The person sending it knows the recipient well. They pick a song that means something.”
A typical visit lasts only a few minutes, but the impact can last much longer.
“The chocolate disappears. The balloon deflates,” Brooks said. “But the memory stays with them.”
Brooks has run into people decades later who still remember the day he showed up in costume, sometimes as a gorilla Cupid or “love doctor.”
“That’s why I do it,” he said. “I get to create memories.”
With Valentine’s Day approaching, Brooks encourages anyone interested to book early. Availability will be limited since he is working solo this year. Anyone seeking more information about what Brooks has to offer can call 724-816-1043.
“I can only do so many,” he said. “But I’m excited to get back out there.”
