Skeets Tolbert

Campbell Aurelius "Skeets" Tolbert (February 14, 1909, Calhoun Falls, South Carolina - November 30, 2000, 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: Born February 14, 1909, Died November 30, 2000 (Houston)

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 (Results 26-45 of 45 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
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

(Results 26-45 of 45 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tolbert, Skeets," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108484.

Tolbert, Skeets. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108484.

"Tolbert, Skeets." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.