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 Homestead, Died June 22, 1970
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1950
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 89 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | November 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 |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brooks, Harry," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.
Brooks, Harry. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105536.
"Brooks, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
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 - http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1480481
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