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 126-150 of 179 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | E28657 | 10-in. | approximately November 1928 | Do you? (That’s all I want to know) | The Midnight Broadcasters | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Brunswick | E29374 | 10-in. | Feb. 1929 | Lonely one | Randolph’s Royal Hawaiians | Vocal and instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E29991 | 10-in. | 6/6/1929 | Miss you | Meyer Davis ; Hotel Astor Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E30060 | 10-in. | June 1929 | Miss you | Dick Robertson | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E35754 | 10-in. | 12/16/1930 | It's a lonesome old town (When you're not around) | Willie Robyn | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E35773 | 10-in. | 12/22/1930 | It’s a lonesome old town (When you’re not around) | Seger Ellis | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E35899 | 10-in. | 1/7/1931 | It’s a lonesome old town (When you’re not around) | Ralph Bennett Seven Aces | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E35943 | 10-in. | 1/21/1931 | It’s a lonesome old town (When you’re not around) | Art Kahn Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36056 | 10-in. | 2/11/1931 | Gee! I’d love to be your sweetheart | Mark Fisher’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36848 | 10-in. | 6/4/1931 | At your command | Sleepy Hall and his Collegians [Fred Rich Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E36938 | 10-in. | 7/24/1931 | What is it? | Connie Boswell | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E36984 | 10-in. | 7/21/1931 | Sweet and lovely | Ed Kirkeby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37002 | 10-in. | 8/4/1931 | What is it? | Dick Robertson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E37005 | 10-in. | 8/4/1931 | Sweet and lovely | Ben Bernie Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37156 | 10-in. | 9/14/1931 | Sweet and lovely | Bing Crosby | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37202 | 10-in. | 9/16/1931 | What is it? | Jacques Renard Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E37249 | 10-in. | 10/9/1931 | Sweet and lovely | Artie Dunn ; Les Reis | Male vocal duet, with piano-accordion and celeste | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37253 | 10-in. | 10/17/1931 | I’m sorry, dear | Jacques Renard Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37360 | 10-in. | 11/19/1931 | I’m sorry, dear | Anthony Trini Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E37440 | 10-in. | 12/3/1931 | I’m sorry, dear | Bing Crosby | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E30290-E30291 | 10-in. | approximately 7/7/1929 | Song of the moonbeams | Colonial Club Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E31960-E31961 | 10-in. | Jan. 1930 | Cooking breakfast for the one I love | Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | composer | |
| Brunswick | C6186 | 10-in. | Nov. 1930 | It’s a lonesome old town (Since you’re not around) | Ben Bernie Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | C8156 | 10-in. | 10/6/1931 | Sweet and lovely | Lee Sims | Piano solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | C7868-C7869 | 10-in. | 6/18/1931 | At your command | Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | lyricist |
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
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Tobias, Harry, 1895-1994 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85273905
Wikidata: Harry Tobias - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5672868
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/45753320
MusicBrainz: Harry Tobias - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a28df0cc-0cad-4c1b-bcb3-b3138c59e59a
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/224114 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/224114
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