Brooks was born in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada. His family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1901.
Shelton Brooks sang, played piano, and performed on Vaudeville and in musical comedy as well has his songwriting carrer. He also had a radio show on the CBS network in the 1930s.
His hits included "All Night Long", "At the Darktown Strutters' Ball", "Every Day", "Some of These Days", "Somewhere in France", "Swing That Thing", "That Man of Mine", "There'll Come A Time", and "Walkin' The Dog".