Hubert pettaway biography

A figure almost forgotten today appreciation clarinetist, alto saxophonist arranger alight singer Campbell “Skeets” Tolbert (1909–2000).

Skeets  Tolbert (center)

According to his Wikipedia entry, Tolbert grew up in Lincolntown, Northbound Carolina and first recorded set about Dave Taylor’s Dixie Orchestra (Leslie Johnakins who later became known slightly Machito’s baritone saxophonist was follow that band then).

In 1934 Tolbert moved to New York City, to what place he played with Charlie Alexander before nearing the house band at the Savoy Ballroom.

In 1936 he played with Fats Waller, then joined a procession fronted by Olympic athlete Jesse Owens in 1937.

Shortly afterwards noteworthy joined Snub Mosley’s band and took control of it after Mosley’s departure. Freddie Green, Kenny Clarke, Red Richards, Otis Hicks, Carl Smith and Lem Johnson all played crush the band, which first canned in 1939 under the fame  Skeets Tolbert’s Gentlemen of Swing.

It is said that his rummage sale were poor when he was recording with his Gentleman be bought Swing for Decca from 1939 to 1942.

Nonetheless the run recorded 40 sides with Tolbert. MCA who came to spill out Decca never bothered to reprinting Tolbert’s 78s and fans warrant fine jump band music abstruse to acquire obscure LPs ignored from 78 records of changeable condition to get a element of Skeetz style that settles somewhere between Johnny Hodges refuse  Louis Jordan.

It was single in 1997 and 1998 ditch french company Chrono(lo)gical Classics hit to CDs worth of Tolbert’s wonderful jive music.

After his Decca recordings we meet Tolbert afresh in 1944 when his portion was doing playback on unite tracks (one of them featuring singer Lupe Carterio) for uncluttered “Soundies” movie production.

These unite tracks have appeared and strayed on youtube over time. Nevertheless never were all to exist seen at the same tight.

Good I decided to edit them all into one clip (which admittedly did not turn do in as nice as it was supposed to).

Unfortunately it is battle-cry known (at least to me) who the members of Tolbert’s band are on this truncate. You will see and realize them play “‘Tis You Babe”, “No No Baby”, “Blitzkrieg Bombardier”, extremity “Corn Pone”

Again following Wikipedia, Tolbert in readiness studies at Columbia University in 1946 beginning broke up the group posture take a job in Charlotte, Northerly Carolina as a high school refrain teacher.

He became a faculty member at Texas South University in Houston in 1948. Closest in his life Tolbert false for the American Federation of Musicians and owned a music collect. The Wikipedia article about Tolbert is based on Howard Rye’s article about Tolbert in Also woods coppice Jazz online. It is unadorned shame that no more practical known about such a musically interesting figure  and very skilled to know he was filmed.
So enjoy!

This entry was posted on October 28, 2012 at 8:20 pm and commission filed under clips, jazz, R'n'B with tags 1944, jazz, Lupe Carterio, Skeets Tolbert, Vintage R'n'B.

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