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 (Results 26-50 of 85 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 85 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brooks, Harry," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.

Brooks, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.

"Brooks, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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