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 Audio
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 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

Best, Skeeter. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

"Best, Skeeter." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206

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