Skeets Tolbert

Campbell Aurelius "Skeets" Tolbert (February 14, 1909, in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina – November 30, 2000, in Houston, Texas) was an American jazz clarinetist, alto saxophonist, vocalist, composer and bandleader. He acquired the nickname "Skeets", which was short for "Mosquito." Tolbert grew up in Lincolntown, North Carolina, and studied at Johnson C. Smith University. Though Tolbert never had a standard to his credit, he composed and arranged a great number of tunes that would become hits for others, notably Nat King Cole. He has 42 tracks over two albums to his credit as well and more that he has credit for in part. Red Richards who played piano and sang with Tolbert's Gentlemen of Swing said of Tolbert that he "could play" and was an original, that he didn't copy Louis Jordan. Of the band he said they were a strong, good sounding band. Of the music he said they were a "nice style band" that could play for dancing.

Birth and Death Data: Died November 30, 2000 (Houston (seat of Harris County, and largest city in State of Texas, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1943

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, alto saxophone, vocalist

= 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
Victor	BVE-69343	10-in.	5/23/1931	Wabash blues	Taylor's Dixie Serenaders	Male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist
Decca	65085	10-in.	3/1/1939	Skin 'em back	Babe Hines ; Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65086	10-in.	3/1/1939	Get up	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65087	10-in.	3/1/1939	Bouncing in rhythm	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65088	10-in.	3/1/1939	I've lost my head over you	Babe Hines ; Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65091	10-in.	3/1/1939	This is the end	Babe Hines ; Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65923	10-in.	7/5/1939	The stuff 's out	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65924	10-in.	7/5/1939	Railroad blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65925	10-in.	7/5/1939	I'm blowin' my top	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65926	10-in.	7/5/1939	Fine piece of meat	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	65927	10-in.	7/5/1939	Swing out	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67101	10-in.	1/24/1940	Gimme something like that	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67102	10-in.	1/24/1940	Hole holy roly - poly	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67103	10-in.	1/24/1940	Raz-ma-taz	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67104	10-in.	1/24/1940	Harlem ain't what it usta be	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67296	10-in.	3/12/1940	Papa's in bed with his britches on-1	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67297	10-in.	3/12/1940	W.P.A. -1	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67298	10-in.	3/12/1940	I can't go for you	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	67299	10-in.	3/12/1940	Jumpin' Jack	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68191	10-in.	10/2/1940	Sammy's chopping block	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68192	10-in.	10/2/1940	Jumpin's like mad	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68193	10-in.	10/2/1940	Sugar boogie	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68194	10-in.	10/2/1940	I'll make it worth your while	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68514	10-in.	12/17/1940	Those clraftin' blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68515	10-in.	12/17/1940	Hit that jive, Jack	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68516	10-in.	12/17/1940	Bugle blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	68517	10-in.	12/17/1940	Four o'clock blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69234	10-in.	5/22/1941	Uncle Eph's dream	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69235	10-in.	5/22/1941	Big fat butterfly	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69236	10-in.	5/22/1941	The rhumba blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69237	10-in.	5/22/1941	Jumpin' in the numbers	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69730	10-in.	9/10/1941	That's that messy boogie	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69731	10-in.	9/10/1941	Lazy gal blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69732	10-in.	9/10/1941	Git it	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	69733	10-in.	9/10/1941	What is the matter now?	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	70258	10-in.	1/29/1942	Delta lane blues	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	70259	10-in.	1/29/1942	Fill up	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	70260	10-in.	1/29/1942	Ride on	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	70261	10-in.	1/29/1942	Because I love my Daddy so	Nora Lee King		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	71197	10-in.	7/25/1942	C.O.D.	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	71198	10-in.	7/25/1942	Hey man, hey man	Skeets Tolbert and his Gentlemen of Swing		instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone
Decca	71587	10-in.	12/20/1943	We call it slow drag	Skeets Tolbert		vocalist
Decca	71588	10-in.	12/20/1943	'Tis you babe	Skeets Tolbert		vocalist
Decca	71589	10-in.	12/20/1943	I'll tell you when	Skeets Tolbert		vocalist
Decca	71590	10-in.	12/20/1943	Blitzkrieg bombardier	Skeets Tolbert		vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tolbert, Skeets," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108484.

Tolbert, Skeets. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108484.

"Tolbert, Skeets." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.