- Skeets Tolbert
Campbell Aurelius "Skeets" Tolbert (February 14, 1909,
Calhoun Falls ,South Carolina - November 30, 2000,Houston ,Texas ) was an Americanjazz clarinetist, alto saxophonist, and bandleader.Tolbert grew up in
Lincolntown, North Carolina , and studied atJohnson C. Smith University . He played inDave Taylor 's Dixie Serenaders from 1929, recording with them in 1931. In 1934 he moved toNew York City , where he played withCharlie Alexander before joining the house band at theSavoy Ballroom . In 1936 he played withFats Waller , then joined a band fronted by Olympic athleteJesse Owens in 1937. Shortly afterwards he joinedSnub Mosley 's band and took control of it after Mosley's departure.Freddie Green ,Kenny Clarke ,Red Richards ,Otis Hicks ,Carl Smith andLem Johnson all played in the band, which recorded in 1939 under the name Tolbert's Gentlemen of Swing. Tolbert recorded with this ensemble for three years forDecca Records . In 1944 the ensemble recorded four sound films of the tunes "No No Baby", "'Tis You Babe", "Blitzkrieg Bombardier", and "Corn Pone".Tolbert completed studies at
Columbia University in 1946 and broke up the group to take a job inCharlotte, North Carolina as a high school music teacher. He became a faculty member atSouthern University in Houston in 1948. Later in his life he worked for theAmerican Federation of Musicians and ran a music store.References
*Howard Rye, "Skeets Tolbert". "Grove Jazz" online.
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