Harry Brooks

Harry Brooks (September 20, 1895 – June 22, 1970) was an American writer of popular songs, jazz pianist and composer in the 1920s to the early 1950s.

Brooks was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania. After graduating from his hometown high school in 1914, he worked as a pianist with Pittsburgh bands (dance orchestras) and then as a staff composer for a publishing company. He is recalled mostly in the 21st century for his work with his friends Thomas "Fats" Waller and the lyricist Andy Razaf. Brooks was the composer of several hit songs including his composition "Ain't Misbehavin'", written with Waller and Razaf.

Also with Razaf and Waller, Brooks scored the Broadway shows Snapshots of 1921 and Connie's Hot Chocolates. He died, aged 74, in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 20, 1895 (Homestead), Died June 22, 1970

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, trombone, songwriter, arranger

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-25501 10-in. 7/19/1921 Saturday Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman Piano duet composer  
Victor B-25515 10-in. 8/16/1921 Saturday Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-49492 10-in. 8/2/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Fats Waller Piano solo composer  
Victor BVE-49493 10-in. 8/2/1929 Sweet Savannah Sue Fats Waller Piano solo composer  
Victor BVE-53498 10-in. 7/9/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-53968 10-in. 7/30/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Gene Austin Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-55928 10-in. 9/20/1929 Sweet Savannah Sue Royal Flush Orchestra ; Fess Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-55929 10-in. 9/20/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Royal Flush Orchestra ; Fess Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Victor BVE-58529 10-in. 1/28/1930 After you've gone Gene Austin Male vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-58530 10-in. 1/28/1930 St. James infirmary Gene Austin Male vocal solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-59122 10-in. 1/27/1930 My man o' war Lizzie Miles Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-59123 10-in. 1/27/1930 Electrician blues Lizzie Miles Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-59124 10-in. 1/27/1930 Good time papa Lizzie Miles Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-59125 10-in. 1/27/1930 You ain't had no blues (Till some other woman takes your man) Lizzie Miles Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-59693 10-in. 4/11/1930 My gal is good for nothing but love Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-92580 10-in. 7/9/1935 Ain't misbehavin' Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Jack Teagarden Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-99726 10-in. 2/28/1936 Swing, Mr. Charlie Don Darcy ; Louis King Garcia Swing Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-014296 10-in. 9/17/1937 Ain't misbehavin' Boots and his Buddies ; Cora Woods Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-045747 10-in. 12/12/1939 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Ragtime Band [Muggsy Spanier] Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-074384 10-in. 6/1/1942 Ain't misbehavin' (I'm savin' my love for you) Tony Pastor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor D7VB-0075 10-in. 1/20/1947 Ain't misbehavin' Art Tatum Piano solo composer  
Columbia 79888 10-in. 6/14/1921 Saturday Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W148640 10-in. 5/28/1929 That rhythm man Sonny Greer and his Memphis Men Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W148762 10-in. 6/28/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Charleston Chasers Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Columbia 148791 10-in. 7/6/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Jerry Mason and his Californians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia [W]148817 10-in. 7/16/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Sammy Fain Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W148905 10-in. 8/20/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W149100 10-in. 10/5/1929 Ain't misbehavin' George Bias Male vocal solo, with violin and piano composer  
Columbia W149950 10-in. 1/31/1930 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue? Mills Merry Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W150160 10-in. 4/1/1930 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Ethel Waters Female vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152667 10-in. 1/11/1934 Ain't misbehavin' Claude Hopkins and his Orchestra ; Orlando Robinson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh S-70303 10-in. Nov. 1921 I'm cuckoo over you Markel's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402534 10-in. 7/19/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W402535 10-in. 7/22/1929 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W402540 10-in. 7/19/1929 That rhythm man Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W402541 10-in. 7/19/1929 Sweet Savannah Sue Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W402551 10-in. 8/2/1929 Jungle jamboree Harlem Footwarmers Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402553 10-in. 8/2/1929 Snake hip dance Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402881 10-in. 8/23/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402924 10-in. 9/11/1929 When you're smiling (The whole world smiles with you) Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W403428 10-in. 12/15/1929 Je sais pos c cannye Patrick (Dak) Pellerin ; Mina Stubbs Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 6153 10-in. approximately July 1921 Saturday Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 6835-6836 10-in. approximately Nov. 1921 I'm cuckoo over you Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E30094 10-in. 6/28/1929 Ain’t misbehavin’ Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E30585 10-in. 7/29/1929 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Jungle Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E30586 10-in. 7/29/1929 Jungle jamboree Jungle Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E31558 10-in. Dec. 1929 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Edith Wilson Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E31559 10-in. Dec. 1929 My man is good for nothing but love Edith Wilson Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E31919 10-in. 1/31/1930 Black and blue Adrian Rollini ; Snake & Teddy Saxophone solo, with piano and guitar composer  
Brunswick E35750 10-in. 12/15/1930 Saturday Andy Kirk ; Twelve Clouds of Joy Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E30421-E30422 10-in. 7/31/1929 Can’t we get together? Hotsy Totsy Gang ; Irving Mills Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E30423-E34024 10-in. 7/31/1929 Sweet Savannah Sue Hotsy Totsy Gang ; Irving Mills Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C3899 10-in. 7/19/1929 That rhythm man Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick C3900 10-in. 7/19/1929 Off time Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick C4029 10-in. 8/13/1929 (What did I do to be so) Black and blue Reuben Reeves ; River Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick TCL1468 10-in. 3/27/1931 Ain’t misbehavin’ Boswell Sisters Female vocal trio composer  
Edison 8065 10-in. 6/14/1921 Saturday Lanin's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone 0EA6384 10-in. 8/21/1938 Ain't misbehavin' Fats Waller and his Rhythm Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 60888 10-in. 3/11/1936 That's what love did co me Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60889 10-in. 3/11/1936 You can't live in Harlem Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60890 10-in. 3/11/1936 I wonder who made rhythm Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60891 10-in. 3/11/1936 'Tain't a fit night out for man or beast Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60892 10-in. 3/11/1936 I take to you Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 60893 10-in. 3/11/1936 Rhythm of the Broadway moon Noble Sissle Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63263 10-in. 2/10/1938 Viper mad Noble Sissle's Swingsters instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63264 10-in. 2/10/1938 Blackstick Noble Sissle's Swingsters instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63265 10-in. 2/10/1938 When the sun sets down South-1 Noble Sissle's Swingsters arranger, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 63266 10-in. 2/10/1938 Sweet patootie Noble Sissle's Swingsters instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 73020 10-in. 8/29/1945 A kiss goodnight Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73021 10-in. 8/29/1945 Benny's coming home on Saturday Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73469 3/22/1946 Somebody loves me Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73470 3/22/1946 Without you (Tres palabras) Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73471 3/22/1946 Strange love Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73499 4/12/1946 A night at The Deuces Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73500 4/12/1946 How high the moon Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73501 4/12/1946 Beyond the blue horizon Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73552 5/2/1946 Surrender Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73553 5/2/1946 More than you know Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73558 5/8/1946 One love Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73559 5/8/1946 Holiday forever Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 73560 5/8/1946 Beyond the blue horizon Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca C 9295 10-in. 8/15/1934 Under the Creole moon Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9296 10-in. 8/15/1934 The old ark is moverin' Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9297 10-in. 8/15/1934 Loveless love Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9298 10-in. 8/15/1934 Polka dot rag Noble Sissle and his International Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brooks, Harry," accessed December 2, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.

Brooks, Harry. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 2, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.

"Brooks, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 2 December 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536

External Sources

Wikipedia: Harry Brooks

Discogs: Harry Brooks

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Brooks, Harry, 1895-1970 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87121594

Wikidata: Harry Brooks - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5667534

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/36145971362932331382

MusicBrainz: Harry Brooks - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cfb5c397-2fae-4ab2-b5af-9a294fb86978

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1480481

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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