Harry Tobias

Harry Tobias (September 11, 1895 – December 15, 1994) was an American lyricist. Like his younger brother Charles, he is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Born in New York City, United States, but raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, he began writing songs in his teens. At the age of 19, he co-wrote his first successful songs, "That Girl of Mine" and "Take Me To My Alabam", with Will Dillon. After serving in the US Army, he returned to songwriting, co-writing the 1922 novelty hit, "Oo-oo, Ernest (Are You Earnest With Me?)". He often worked with his brothers Charles and Henry, writing songs with Charles for the Broadway show Earl Carroll's Sketch Book in 1929, and writing Rudy Vallee's hit "Miss You" with both brothers the same year. In 1931, he had success with the song "At Your Command", an early success for Bing Crosby, and also co-wrote "Sweet and Lovely", a hit for Russ Columbo. He wrote or co-wrote the theme songs for many films in the 1930s and 1940s, including One Rainy Afternoon (1936), The Young in Heart (1938), Made for Each Other (1939), If It Wasn't for The Moon (1940) and It's a Date (1940). His many co-writers included Gene Autry.

He died in St Louis, Missouri at age 99 on December 15, 1994. His interment was in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 11, 1895 (New York City), Died December 15, 1994 (St. Louis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 167 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-18375 12-in. 9/15/1916 Witmark medley one-step Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-18522 10-in. 10/3/1916 Take me to my Alabam' Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-19166 10-in. 2/12/1917 That girl of mine Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-25314 10-in. 5/23/1921 Honey rose Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with oboe, bassoon, and orchestra composer  
Victor B-25741 10-in. 11/1/1921 Mary O'Brien Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27000 10-in. 10/3/1922 All for the love of Mike Isabelle Patricola Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27634 10-in. 3/1/1923 Keep off my shoes Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor B-28443 10-in. 8/23/1923 Hot roasted peanuts Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-31201 10-in. 11/21/1924 If you don't tell me (How am I 'gonna' know) Dick Long ; Nankin Café Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-37444 10-in. 3/3/1927 Pretty little thing Whitey Kaufman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus (takes 1-4); unaccompanied (takes 5 and 6) composer  
Victor BVE-38139 10-in. 3/4/1927 Nay! Nay! Neighbor Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor PBVE-42102 10-in. 3/19/1928 Lila Puss Donahoo ; Bill Hawley Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, piano, and cornet songwriter  
Victor BVE-45801 10-in. 6/19/1928 Giggling Gertie The Happiness Boys Male vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
Victor BVE-47750 10-in. 10/16/1928 My Scandinavian gal (By yumpin' yiminy) Irving Aaronson ; Commanders ; Phil Saxe Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-48532 10-in. 1/2/1929 Do you? That's all I want to know Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-49900 10-in. 1/31/1929 My Scandinavian gal The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-50542 10-in. 3/15/1929 Lonely one Eddie Harkness Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-53542 10-in. 6/5/1929 Miss you Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-53996 10-in. 8/19/1929 Fascinating you Don Howard ; Phelps Twins Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-55624 10-in. 7/25/1929 Song of the moonbeams George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-58618 10-in. 1/23/1930 Cooking breakfast for the one I love Bernie Cummins ; Belle Mann ; New Yorker Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor PBVE-61092 10-in. 5/1/1931 I'm gonna get you Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Bing Crosby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBVE-61096 10-in. 7/6/1931 At your command Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Donald Novis Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBVE-61099 10-in. 7/19/1931 Sweet and lovely Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Donald Novis Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-64363 10-in. 11/20/1930 The wedding of the birds Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with whistling lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 167 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tobias, Harry," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

Tobias, Harry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097.

"Tobias, Harry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105097

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