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 1-25 of 54 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-073459 10-in. 3/19/1942 She'll always remember Earl Hines Orchestra ; Madeline Green ; Three Varieties Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-073460 10-in. 3/19/1942 Skylark Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-073461 10-in. 3/19/1942 Second balcony jump Earl Hines Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-073462 10-in. 3/19/1942 Stormy Monday blues Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor D7VB-0627 10-in. 3/5/1947 Pretty eyed baby William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0628 10-in. 3/5/1947 Don't you think I oughta know William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0629 10-in. 3/5/1947 That night we said goodbye William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0630 10-in. 3/5/1947 You didn't have to say I love you William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0631 10-in. 3/5/1947 Shorty's got to go William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0632 10-in. 3/5/1947 Half a love William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0633 10-in. 3/5/1947 Leave it to fate, Gate William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-0634 10-in. 3/5/1947 Sharkies' boogie William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor D7VB-1483 10-in. 8/6/1947 You're the dream of a lifetime William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor D7VB-1484 10-in. 8/6/1947 Chickasaw limited William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor D7VB-1485 10-in. 8/6/1947 My baby's giving me the brush William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor D7VB-1486 10-in. 8/6/1947 My little red head William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1488 10-in. 8/6/1947 Elevator boogie William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1489 10-in. 8/6/1947 For once in your life William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1490 10-in. 8/6/1947 I learned to cry (when you said good-bye) Gus Gordon ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1963 10-in. 11/2/1947 Mama, mama, mama William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-1964 10-in. 11/2/1947 Believe me, beloved Gus Gordon ; William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist, composer  
Victor D7VB-1965 10-in. 11/2/1947 So tired Gus Gordon ; William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-2018 10-in. 11/8/1947 My baby likes to be-bop (and I like to be-bop too) William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-2019 10-in. 11/8/1947 Let's be sweethearts again Gus Gordon ; William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Victor D7VB-2020 10-in. 11/8/1947 Say something nice about me Gus Gordon ; William Johnson ; Musical Notes (Bill Johnson) Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz quintet instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Best, Skeeter," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

Best, Skeeter. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/304206.

"Best, Skeeter." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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