Skeeter Best

Clifton "Skeeter" Best (November 20, 1914 – May 27, 1985) was an American jazz guitarist. Best played in Philadelphia from 1935 to 1940, recording with Slim Marshall and Erskine Hawkins. In 1940, he joined Earl Hines's orchestra, playing with him until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1942. After the war, he played with Bill Johnson from 1945 to 1949. He toured East Asia with Oscar Pettiford in 1951 and 1952, and formed his own trio in the 1950s. He did a critically acclaimed session with Ray Charles and Milt Jackson in 1957 called Soul Brothers. In 1958, he recorded with Mercer Ellington and taught in New York City. He also recorded with Harry Belafonte, Etta Jones, Nellie Lutcher, Milt Hinton, Osie Johnson, Paul Quinichette, Jimmy Rushing, Sonny Stitt, Charles Thompson, and Lucky Thompson.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 20, 1914 (North Carolina), Died May 27, 1985 (The Bronx)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	D7VB-2021	10-in.	11/8/1947	All dressed up with a broken heart	Gus Gordon ; William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson)	Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet	instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist
Decca	81296		7/20/1951	If, if, if you were mine	Gladys Bruce		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	81297		7/20/1951	I've got the blues for my baby	Gladys Bruce		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	81298		7/20/1951	Trinidad Daddy	Gladys Bruce		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	81299		7/20/1951	The right kind of feeling	Gladys Bruce		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82670		4/9/1952	Lonesome and blue	Hal Singer Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82671		4/9/1952	I love the way you love me	Hal Singer Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82672		4/9/1952	Secret love	Hal Singer Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82673		4/9/1952	Please Dr. Jive	Hal Singer Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82958		6/16/1952	Troubles	Joan Shaw		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82959		6/16/1952	Better be on my way	Joan Shaw		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82960		6/16/1952	Until you came along	Joan Shaw		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	82961		6/16/1952	Anything you say	Joan Shaw		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	85845		2/9/1954	Swingin' the blues	Paul Quinichette Quartet		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	85846		2/9/1954	Humpty dumpty heart	Paul Quinichette Quartet		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	85847		2/9/1954	I remember Harlem	Paul Quinichette Quartet		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	85848		2/9/1954	I can't give you anything but love	Paul Quinichette Quartet		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	89964		5/16/1956	Camel rock	Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	89965		5/16/1956	Up and down	Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	89966		5/16/1956	Take one	Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	89967		5/16/1956	The grey bear	Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	105297		7/14/1958	Steppin' into swing society	Mercer Ellington Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	105298		7/14/1958	Black butterfly	Mercer Ellington Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	105299		7/14/1958	Got my foot in the door	Mercer Ellington Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	105304		7/22/1958	If you were in my place	Mercer Ellington Orchestra		instrumentalist, guitar

(Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Best, Skeeter," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

Best, Skeeter. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

"Best, Skeeter." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.