Shelton Brooks

Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886 – September 6, 1975) was a Canadian-born African American composer of popular music and jazz. He was known for his ragtime and vaudeville style, and wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century; including "Some of These Days" and "At the Darktown Strutters' Ball".

Birth and Death Data: Born May 4, 1886 (Amherstburg), Died September 6, 1975 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, speaker, baritone vocal, author, songwriter, piano

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-9740 10-in. 12/27/1910 Some of these days American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-12771 10-in. 1/6/1913 All night long Ada Jones ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-15461 10-in. 12/4/1914 Ruff Johnson's harmony band William J. Halley Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor C-17551 12-in. 4/28/1916 Walkin' the dog Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-17898 10-in. 6/20/1916 Walkin' the dog Six Brown Brothers Saxophone sextet composer  
Victor B-19144 10-in. 1/30/1917 Ruff Johnson's harmony band Gene Greene Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19847 10-in. 5/9/1917 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Six Brown Brothers Saxophone sextet composer  
Victor B-20706 10-in. 9/26/1917 Somid in seid Anna Hoffman Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-24028 10-in. 5/4/1920 Jean Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-24085 10-in. 6/15/1920 So long Oo-long (How long you gonna be gone?) Van Eps Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Victor B-28235 10-in. 6/29/1923 If anybody here wants a real kind mamma (Here's your opportunity) Perry Bradford’s Jazz Phools ; Ethel Ridley Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-31172 10-in. 11/13/1924 Some of these days Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-55602 10-in. 7/10/1929 Some of these days Sophie Tucker Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist, composer  
Victor BVE-56550 10-in. 11/20/1929 You ain't talking to me Jack and Johnnie Powell Male vocal duet, with Hawaiian guitar and mandolin composer  
Victor BVE-57254 10-in. 12/12/1929 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-59597 10-in. 4/17/1930 Baile de negros Marimba Centro-Americana Marimba band composer  
Victor BVE-62397 10-in. 8/26/1930 San (Fox trot) Billy Chase Saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet solos composer  
Victor BVE-64851 10-in. 1/14/1931 Some of these days Dave Nelson and the King’s Men Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BAVE-66677 10-in. spring 1932 Uno de estos días Orquesta Adolfo Carabelli Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor ABRC-69919 10-in. 6/10/1931 Some of these days Snooks Friedman ; Memphis Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BRC-70980 10-in. 12/17/1931 Some of these days Gilmore Sisters Piano duet composer  
Victor BRC-71282 10-in. 1/27/1932 Some of these days Rollin Smith's Melodians Male vocal ensemble, with guitar and piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BRC-72213 10-in. 3/29/1932 Darktown Strutters' Ball The Four New Yorkers Male vocal quartet, with harp composer, lyricist  
Victor BSHQ-73122 10-in. 7/26/1932 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Pickens Sisters Female vocal trio, with instrumental quintet composer  
Victor BS-75437 10-in. 4/25/1933 Darktown Strutters' Ball The Old Apple Trio Vocal trio, with guitar lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-75441 10-in. 4/25/1933 Darktown Strutters' Ball The Old Apple Trio Vocal trio, with guitar composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-75728 10-in. 4/6/1933 Easy rider Peggy English ; High Hatters [Peggy English Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-75729 10-in. 4/6/1933 Easy rider Harlem Hannah and her Hot Boys Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-75977 10-in. 7/29/1933 Some of these days King's Jesters Vocal and instrumental ensemble lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-85828 10-in. 4/12/1935 All night long Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-92593 10-in. 7/10/1935 Darktown Strutters' Ball Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Jack Teagarden Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-95156 10-in. 10/2/1935 Algún día Marimba Pan-Americana Marimba band composer  
Victor BS-07413 10-in. 3/1/1937 Some of these days Vernon Geyer Organ solo composer  
Victor BS-013813 10-in. 9/15/1937 Darktown Strutters' Ball Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-027962 10-in. 10/20/1938 Easy rider (I wonder where my easy rider's gone) Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-030339 10-in. 12/1/1938 Walkin' the dog Bunny Berigan and his Men Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BAVE-039126 10-in. between 5/10/1939 and 7/12/1939 Alguno de estos días Alabama Jazz ; Eddie Kay Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BS-043350 10-in. 11/3/1939 Darktown Strutters' Ball Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-053272 10-in. 8/12/1940 Darktown Strutters' Ball Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor PBS-Test-1342 10-in. 3/24/1934 Cupie The Argentine Trio ; Jose Ramirez Male vocal solo, with male vocal trio composer  
Victor [Trial 1916-12-15-06] Not documented 12/15/1916 Rufe Johnson's harmony band Gene Greene Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia 4271 10-in. ca. 1909 You ain't talking to me Eddie Morton Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 19327 10-in. 5/1/1911 Some of these days Elise Stevenson Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 19393 10-in. 5/29/1911 Some of these days Columbia Quartette ; Elise Stevenson Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 38476 10-in. 12/4/1912 All night long Ada Jones Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 39698 10-in. 12/16/1914 Ruff Johnson's harmony band Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 77086 10-in. 5/31/1917 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Original Dixieland Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 77595 10-in. 12/21/1917 Darktown Strutters' Ball Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 77856 10-in. 5/28/1918 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Wilbur Sweatman's Original Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 79005 10-in. 2/28/1920 Jean Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 79109 10-in. 4/8/1920 Jean Rudy Wiedoeft's Palace Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Columbia 79224 10-in. 6/3/1920 In sweet September Paul Biese Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Columbia 79550 10-in. 12/3/1920 All night long Harmonizers Quartet ; Gladys Rice Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 80592 10-in. 10/10/1922 That barkin' dog (Woof, woof!) Frank Westphal Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80609 10-in. 10/13/1922 Some of these days Al Jolson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 80705 10-in. 12/6/1922 Some of these days Paul Biese’s Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80787 10-in. 1/12/1923 Some of these days Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81068 10-in. 6/9/1923 Here's your opportunity blues Perry Bradford ; Ethel Ridley Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer  
Columbia 140247 10-in. 1/14/1925 After all these years Ollie Powers Male vocal solo, with piano and banjo lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia 140248 10-in. 1/14/1925 A fool and a butterfly Ollie Powers Male vocal solo, with piano and banjo lyricist, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Columbia 140268 10-in. 1/20/1925 Some of these days Art Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 48870 12-in. 7/15/1916 Walkin' the dog Prince's Band ; G. Hepburn Wilson Band composer  
Columbia W141543 10-in. 1/22/1926 Make me a pallet on the floor Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer  
Columbia W141544 10-in. 1/22/1926 Bring your greenbacks Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer  
Columbia W141688 10-in. 2/17/1926 After all these years Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer  
Columbia W141689 10-in. 2/17/1926 Throw dirt in your face Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano lyricist, composer  
Columbia W142955 10-in. 11/23/1926 Some of these days Ted Lewis and his Band ; Sophie Tucker Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Columbia W143708 10-in. 3/23/1927 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Columbia W143717 10-in. 3/28/1927 Some of these days Mack Allen Male vocal solo, with violin and guitar lyricist, composer  
Columbia W143801 10-in. 3/29/1927 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Clayton McMichen ; Riley Puckett ; Skillet Lickers ; Gid Tanner String band, with male vocal duet composer, lyricist  
Columbia W144867 10-in. 10/14/1927 Some of these days Ethel Waters Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
Columbia W146183 10-in. 4/24/1928 Some of these days Barrel-House Pete Piano solo composer  
Columbia W150246 10-in. 4/16/1930 Darktown Strutters' Ball Riley Puckett Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist  
Columbia W151622 10-in. 6/22/1931 Some of these days Eddie Edinborough ; New Orleans Wild Cats Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Columbia W152144 10-in. 3/17/1932 Some of these days Log Cabin Four Male vocal quartet lyricist, composer  
Columbia W152444 10-in. 7/26/1933 Some of these days Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W152659 10-in. 12/20/1933 Darktown Strutters' Ball Chick Webb's Savoy Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W351052 10-in. 6/30/1931 Darktown Strutters' Ball Mound City Blue Blowers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
OKeh S-7387 10-in. Apr. 1920 Jean Harry Raderman's Jazz Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-7870 10-in. Apr. 1921 Lost your mind Shelton Brooks ; Rega Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
OKeh S-7871 Not documented Apr. 1921 [Unknown title(s)] Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh S-7874 10-in. Apr. 1921 Darktown court room Shelton Brooks and Company Comic scene speaker, author  
OKeh S-7878 10-in. Apr. 1921 Murder in the first degree Shelton Brooks ; Rega Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal, songwriter  
OKeh S-7980 10-in. June 1921 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Brown and Terry Jazzola Boys Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70807 Not documented Aug. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh S-70808 10-in. Aug. 1922 The chicken thieves Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker, author  
OKeh S-70813 10-in. Aug. 1922 Collecting rents Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker, author  
OKeh S-70845 10-in. Sept. 1922 Back-biting Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh S-71043 10-in. November 1922 Some of these days Original Dixieland Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-71177 10-in. January 1923 Not to-night Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist, composer  
OKeh S-71269 10-in. Feb. 1923 The family quarrel Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh S-71270 10-in. Feb. 1923 The third degree Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh S-71320 10-in. Feb. 1923 When the Dixie sun goes down Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh S-71321 10-in. Feb. 1923 It takes money to cure my blues Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh S-71400 10-in. April 1923 I got what it takes to bring you back Shelton Brooks ; Sara Martin Female-male vocal duet,with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, composer, lyricist  
OKeh S-71401 10-in. April 1923 Original blues Shelton Brooks ; Sara Martin Female-male vocal duet,with piano composer, vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist  
OKeh S-72042 10-in. Nov. 1923 The new Darktown judge Shelton Brooks and Company Monologue speaker, author  
OKeh S-72043 10-in. Nov. 1923 Then I'll go in that lion's cage Shelton Brooks and Company Monologue speaker, author  
OKeh S-72527 10-in. May 1924 The old veterans Shelton Brooks and Company Dialogue author, speaker  
OKeh S-72528 10-in. May 1924 Buddys Shelton Brooks and Company Dialogue author, speaker  
OKeh S-72956 10-in. 11/5/1924 You got to go Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh S-72957 10-in. 11/5/1924 That's enough Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh S-72976 10-in. Nov. 1924 Pot of gold Shelton Brooks Monologue, with orchestra speaker  
OKeh S-72977 10-in. Nov. 1924 You'll be a cousin shy Shelton Brooks Monologue, with orchestra speaker  
OKeh S-73167 10-in. Feb. 1925 The barber shop four Shelton Brooks and Company Comic scene speaker  
OKeh S-73168 10-in. Feb. 1925 Work don't bother me Shelton Brooks and Company Comic scene vocalist, baritone vocal, speaker  
OKeh S-73212 10-in. Mar. 1925 The spiritualist Shelton Brooks and Company Comic scene author, speaker  
OKeh S-73215 10-in. Mar. 1925 The lodge meeting Shelton Brooks and Company Comic scene speaker  
OKeh 73824 10-in. 12/10/1925 The new professor Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh 73825 10-in. 12/10/1925 The jailbirds Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh 73830 10-in. Dec. 1925 Your jelly roll is good Alberta Hunter ; Perry Bradford's Mean Four Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet composer, lyricist  
OKeh 73905 10-in. Jan. 1926 I don't want it all Alberta Hunter ; Perry Bradford's Mean Four Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet composer  
OKeh 73919 10-in. Jan. 1926 I'm hard to satisfy Alberta Hunter Female vocal solo, with saxophone, cornet, and piano composer  
OKeh 74053 10-in. Mar. 1926 The fortune teller Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh 74054 10-in. Mar. 1926 Domestic troubles Shelton Brooks Monologue speaker  
OKeh 80133 10-in. 9/23/1926 In my Southern harem Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with piano composer, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 80134 10-in. 9/23/1926 I was marching thru Georgia Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with piano composer, vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 80135 10-in. 9/23/1926 When you're really blue Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh 80136 10-in. 9/23/1926 You sure am one sick man Shelton Brooks Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W80385 10-in. 2/3/1927 Some of these days Vaughn De Leath Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist, composer  
OKeh W80502 10-in. 3/7/1927 Darktown Strutters' Ball Miff Mole's Molers Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W80511 10-in. 3/9/1927 If anybody here wants a real kind mama Laura Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance quartet composer  
OKeh W80527 10-in. 3/14/1927 My easy rider Blind Lemon Jefferson Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80739 10-in. 4/16/1927 Smile your bluesies away Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81305 10-in. 9/2/1927 Some of these days Sophie Tucker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
OKeh W81336 10-in. 9/9/1927 Some of these days Eddie Bratton Trumpet and piano duet composer  
OKeh W81438 10-in. 9/15/1927 Who's who in a barber's shop, part 1 Ham & Sam Comic dialogue speaker  
OKeh W81439 10-in. 9/15/1927 Who's who in a barber's shop, part 2 Ham & Sam Comic dialogue speaker  
OKeh W400790 10-in. 6/15/1928 Hard times Shelton Brooks Monologue, with piano speaker  
OKeh W400791 10-in. 6/15/1928 Last night Shelton Brooks Monologue, with piano speaker  
OKeh W402923 10-in. 9/10/1929 Some of these days Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, lyricist  
OKeh W402943 10-in. 9/10/1929 Some of these days Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
OKeh W403032 10-in. 10/5/1929 Walkin' the dog Ed Lang Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W404629 10-in. 12/9/1930 Darktown Strutters' Ball Fiddlin' John Carson ; Virginia Reelers Instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5170-b] 10-in. approximately Oct. 1917 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Brunswick Military Band Band composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5175-b] 10-in. approximately Oct. 1917 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 3792 10-in. approximately June 1920 Jean Alfred Eldridge ; Walter G. Haenschen ; Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet composer  
Brunswick 9045-9046 10-in. approximately Oct. 1922 Some of these days Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick XE29996 12-in. 6/7/1929 Some of these days Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E31122 10-in. 10/8/1929 Alguno de estos días Pilar Arcos ; Los Castilians Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E35880 10-in. 12/23/1930 Some of these days Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E35986 10-in. 3/30/1931 Levee low down Chocolate Dandies [Mills Blue Rhythm Band] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E4397-E4399 10-in. 1/19/1927 Some of these days Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E25439-E25440 10-in. 12/6/1927 Some of these days Lee Sims Piano solo, with incidental trumpet composer  
Brunswick XE27226-XE27228 12-in. 3/30/1928 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Casa Lopez Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet; without vocal (take XE27228) composer, lyricist  
Brunswick STL857 10-in. Nov. 1928 Some of these days Bill Bailey ; Allister Wylie Piano duet composer  
Brunswick C2132 10-in. 7/25/1928 Easy rider Sam McGee Male vocal solo, with banjo-guitar composer, lyricist  
Brunswick C3805 10-in. 7/9/1929 I wonder where my easy rider’s gone? Hokum Jug Band ; Frankie Half Pint Jaxon ; Tampa Red Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick C4392 10-in. 9/23/1929 Easy rider Dixie Rhythm Kings ; Omer Simeon Jazz/dance band composer, lyricist  
Brunswick TCL1479½ 10-in. 7/24/1931 Some of these days New Orleans Wild Cats Jazz/dance ensemble composer  
Brunswick 574-3 10-in. May 1928 The Dark Town Strutters’ Ball Fred Elizalde Hot Music Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 3541 10-in. 1/25/1915 Ruff Johnson's Harmony Band Arthur Collins ; Byron G. Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 4763 10-in. 6/2/1916 Walkin' the dog National Promenade Band Band composer  
Edison 5957 10-in. 2/28/1918 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Jaudas' Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 5962 10-in. between 1/9/1918 and 1/10/1918 The Darktown Strutters' Ball Premier Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 18763 10-in. 9/26/1928 Some of these days Will Donaldson ; J. Donald Parker Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison N-465 10-in. 9/26/1928 Some of these days Will Donaldson ; J. Donald Parker Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brooks, Shelton," accessed October 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106731.

Brooks, Shelton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106731.

"Brooks, Shelton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106731

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