Harry Brooks (September 20, 1895 – June 22, 1970) was an American writer of popular songs, jazz pianist and composer in the 1920s to the early 1950s. Brooks was born in

Homestead, Pennsylvania Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Monongahela River southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The borough is known for the Homestead strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relation ...

. After graduating from his hometown high school in 1914, he worked as a pianist with

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

bands (dance orchestras) and then as a staff composer for a publishing company. He is recalled mostly in the 21st century for his work with his friends

Thomas "Fats" Waller Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. His innovations in the Harlem stride (music), stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. A widel ...

and the lyricist

Andy Razaf Andy Razaf (born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo; December 16, 1895 – February 3, 1973) was the American lyricist of such well-known songs as " Ain't Misbehavin'" and " Honeysuckle Rose". He was also a composer, poet and vocalist. Biograph ...

. Brooks was the composer of several hit songs including his composition " Ain't Misbehavin'", written with Waller and Razaf.Larkin, Colin (ed.) (2006) "Razaf, Andy" ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' MUZE, Oxford University Press, New York, Also with Razaf and Waller, Brooks scored the Broadway shows ''Snapshots of 1921'' and ''Connie's Hot Chocolates''. He died, aged 74, in

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. The town is know for their pancake throwing contest held ...

Published songs and music

All co-composed with Razaf and Waller unless otherwise marked * " Ain't Misbehavin'" *"

Black and Blue ''Black and Blue'' is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 23 April 1976, by Rolling Stones Records. This album was the first record after former guitarist Mick Taylor quit in December 1974. ...

" *"Can't We Get Together" *"Garden Of God" - sole composer *"In the Meantime" *"Jungle Jamboree" *"Low Tide Down In My Heart" - with

*"My Man Is Good For Nothin' But Love" *"On the Loose" - sole composer *"Rockin' In a Rockin' Chair" *"Saturday" *"Southern Sunset" (aka "When the Sun Sets Down South") - with Sidney Joseph Bechet and

Noble Sissle Noble Lee Sissle (July 10, 1889 – December 17, 1975) was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer, and playwright, best known for the Broadway musical ''Shuffle Along'' (1921), and its hit song "I'm Just Wild About Harry". Ea ...

*"Strictly From Dixie" *"Sweet Savannah Sue" *"Swing, Mr. Charlie" - with Irving Taylor and J. Russell Robinson *"That Rhythm Man"

Published songs and music

Notes and references

Further reading