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 151-175 of 179 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | LAE226 | 10-in. | July 1928 | Gotta big date with a little girl | Anthony Galla-Rini | Accordion solo, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | LAE805 | 10-in. | 5/26/1930 | When it’s harvest time (Sweet Angeline) | Beverly Hillbillies | Male vocal duet | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | LAE874 | 10-in. | 9/19/1930 | The wedding of the birds | Earl Burtnett ; Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | LA1038 | 10-in. | 5/5/1931 | I’m gonna get you | Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | LA1040 | 10-in. | 5/5/1931 | Has de ser mia | Orquesta de Abe Lyman | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | LA1051 | 10-in. | 6/24/1931 | At your command | Bing Crosby | Male vocal solo, with piano | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | LA1030-LA1031 | 10-in. | 4/22/1931 | I’m gonna get you | Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | TCL1516 | 10-in. | 8/14/1931 | What is it? | Dixie Lee | Female vocal solo, with piano | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | TCL1524 | 10-in. | 9/25/1931 | What is it? | Vivian Janis | Female vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | TCL1527 | 10-in. | 10/7/1931 | At your command | Doris Sharp | Female vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | DAL459 | 10-in. | 6/24/1937 | Rocky mountain express | Saddle Tramps | String band, with male vocal trio | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | DAL508 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Here comes your pappy (with the wrong kind of load) | Nite Owls | String band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | DAL670 | 10-in. | 12/2/1938 | It's a lonesome old town (when you're not around) | Nite Owls | String band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | LA1531 | 10-in. | 11/24/1937 | Sail along, silv'ry moon | Gene Autry | Male vocal solo, with violin, guitar, steel guitar, and string bass | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | LA2315 | 10-in. | 8/21/1940 | There'll never be another pal like you | Gene Autry | Male vocal solo, with string band | songwriter | |
| Edison | 8242 | 10-in. | 10/5/1921 | Mary O'Brien | James Doherty | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | lyricist | |
| Edison | 8874 | 10-in. | 3/9/1923 | Keep off my shoes | Kaplan's Melodists | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
| Edison | 9381 | 10-in. | 2/19/1924 | Just like a baby | James Doherty ; Top Notchers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Edison | 11889 | 10-in. | 9/14/1927 | Blow, blow, blow (On your old harmonica, Joe) | Vaughn De Leath | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Edison | 18571 | 10-in. | 6/7/1928 | Giggling Gertie | Vaughn De Leath | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Edison | 18577 | 10-in. | 6/13/1928 | Gotta big date with a little girl | Frank Wallace | Male vocal solo, with saxophone and ukulele | lyricist | |
| Edison | 19278 | 10-in. | 7/5/1929 | Miss you | Phil Spitalny's Music | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal duet | lyricist | |
| Edison | N-294 | 10-in. | 6/7/1928 | Giggling Gertie | Vaughn De Leath | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Edison | N-1002 | 10-in. | 7/5/1929 | Miss you | Phil Spitalny's Music | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal duet | lyricist | |
| Edison | N-1005 | 10-in. | 7/5/1929 | Song of the moonbeams | B. A. Rolfe Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobias, Harry," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.
Tobias, Harry. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.
"Tobias, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 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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