Harry Tobias

Harry Tobias (September 11, 1895 – December 15, 1994) was an American lyricist. Like his younger brother Charles, he is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Born in New York City, United States, but raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, he began writing songs in his teens. At the age of 19, he co-wrote his first successful songs, "That Girl of Mine" and "Take Me To My Alabam", with Will Dillon. After serving in the US Army, he returned to songwriting, co-writing the 1922 novelty hit, "Oo-oo, Ernest (Are You Earnest With Me?)". He often worked with his brothers Charles and Henry, writing songs with Charles for the Broadway show Earl Carroll's Sketch Book in 1929, and writing Rudy Vallee's hit "Miss You" with both brothers the same year. In 1931, he had success with the song "At Your Command", an early success for Bing Crosby, and also co-wrote "Sweet and Lovely", a hit for Russ Columbo. He wrote or co-wrote the theme songs for many films in the 1930s and 1940s, including One Rainy Afternoon (1936), The Young in Heart (1938), Made for Each Other (1939), If It Wasn't for The Moon (1940) and It's a Date (1940). His many co-writers included Gene Autry.

He died in St Louis, Missouri at age 99 on December 15, 1994. His interment was in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 11, 1895 (New York City), Died December 15, 1994 (St. Louis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 167 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-045778 10-in. 12/19/1939 If it wasn't for the moon Blue Barron ; Alan Holmes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-061549 10-in. 8/25/1941 Miss you Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Clyde Rogers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-067765 10-in. 9/9/1941 Miss you Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-067858 10-in. 9/15/1941 Miss you Allan Foster ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-073435 10-in. 3/13/1942 I'll keep the lovelight burning Carl Denny ; Hal McIntyre Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-073570 10-in. 3/13/1942 I'll keep the lovelight burning Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Stuart Wade Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor E0VB-4632 10-in. 5/18/1950 Ashes of roses Rosalie Allen ; Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Female-male vocal duet, with recitation and string band songwriter  
Victor D6VB-3011 10-in. 10/14/1946 I used to be her one and only (now I'm only her used to be) Don Cornell ; Kaydets ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-1852 10-in. 11/6/1947 No longer Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Martin Men Male vocal group, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor PBS-Test-1390 10-in. 6/25/1935 Today is tomorrow Sylvia Froos Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBS-Test-1391 10-in. 6/25/1935 Heat in my feet Sylvia Froos Female vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia LA1531 10-in. 11/24/1937 Sail along, silv'ry moon Gene Autry String band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 47042 10-in. 9/22/1916 Take me to my Alabam' Henry I. Marshall Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 47127 10-in. 11/3/1916 Take me to my Alabam' Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 79978 10-in. 9/9/1921 Mary O'Brien Edwin Dale Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80016 10-in. 10/5/1921 Plantation lullaby Prince's Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80094 10-in. 12/8/1921 If you knew Garber-Davis Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia 80195 10-in. 2/16/1922 If you knew Frank Westphal Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80273 10-in. 4/4/1922 O-oo Ernest (are you earnest with me) Furman and Nash Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80455 10-in. 7/13/1922 Good mornin' (it's mighty good to be home) Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 80581 10-in. 10/3/1922 All for the love of Mike Van and Schenck Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 80781 10-in. 1/10/1923 Keep off my shoes Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81181 10-in. 8/31/1923 Hot roasted peanuts Frost's Bostonians Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia 81247 10-in. 9/29/1923 Hot roasted peanuts Furman and Nash Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 140276 10-in. 1/23/1925 I made a hit with Kit-Kit-Kitty Ford and Glenn Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
(Results 51-75 of 167 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobias, Harry," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

Tobias, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

"Tobias, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097

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