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 New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died December 15, 1994 (St. Louis (independent city in Missouri, United States) )

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 101-125 of 179 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W151701 10-in. 7/23/1931 What is it? Smith Ballew and his Piping Rock Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W151755 10-in. 8/26/1931 Sweet and lovely Frank Parker Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Columbia W151854 10-in. 10/13/1931 I'm sorry, dear Anson Weeks Orchestra ; Don Raymond Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152045 10-in. 12/14/1931 I'm sorry, dear Red McKenzie Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia W152133 10-in. 3/16/1932 Goodnight, my love Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152454 10-in. 7/28/1933 Here you come with love Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia C2142 10-in. 2/28/1938 On the sunny side of the Rockies Girls of the Golden West Female vocal duet, with guitar songwriter  
Columbia W351030 10-in. 5/28/1931 In the merry month of May Frank Auburn and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W351038 10-in. 6/19/1931 At your command Bobby Dix ; Georgia Moonlight Serenaders [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W351081 10-in. 7/28/1931 Sweet and lovely Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W351091 10-in. 8/25/1931 What is it? Lloyd Keating and his Music [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Robert Wood [Paul Small] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh S-70292 10-in. November 1921 Mary O'Brien Samuel Ash ; Crescent Trio Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70848 10-in. Sept. 1922 All for the love of Mike Billy Jones Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-71704 10-in. July 1923 Hot roasted peanuts Blue Diamond Dance Orchestra ; Ernest Hare Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh S-73497 10-in. July 1925 There's one born ev'ry minute The Bow-Wows ; The Happiness Boys Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
OKeh W402538 10-in. 7/25/1929 Miss you Smith Ballew Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W402738 10-in. 6/26/1929 Hot peanuts Benny Benthall Vocal solo, with guitar lyricist  
OKeh W404557 10-in. 11/19/1930 The wedding of the birds Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh W404815 10-in. 1/26/1931 It's a lonesome old town Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick C2087 10-in. 2/14/1938 On the sunny side of the Rockies Prairie Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Brunswick 599 10-in. approximately early 1917 Take me to my Alabam' Peerless Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick 7744 10-in. approximately March 1922 O-oo Ernest Margaret Young Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 11928-11929 10-in. 11/20/1923 Hot roasted peanuts Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist  
Brunswick E28256 10-in. 9/18/1928 Do you? That’s all I want to know! Yacht Club Boys Male vocal and instrumental quartet lyricist  
Brunswick E28475 10-in. 10/16/1928 Do you? That’s all I want to know Six Jumping Jacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
(Results 101-125 of 179 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobias, Harry," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

Tobias, Harry. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

"Tobias, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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