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 Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...

'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 1951Dicaire, David (2006) ''Jazz Musicians, 1945 to the Present'', p. 36. McFarland
at Google Books. Retrieved 30 April 2013. and 1952, and formed his own trio in the 1950s. He did a critically acclaimed session with Ray Charles and

Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solo ...

in 1957 called ''

Soul Brothers ''Soul Brothers'' is the third album recorded by Ray Charles and the eleventh album by Milt Jackson and released by Atlantic Records in 1958. The album was later re-issued in a two-CD compilation together with the other Charles–Jackson album '' ...

''. 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 Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his ...

, Charles Thompson, and Lucky Thompson.

Discography

As sideman

* Eugenie Baird, ''Eugenie Baird Sings, Duke's Boys Play Ellington'' (Design, 1959) *

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

, ''Aretha'' (Columbia, 1961) * Bennie Green & Paul Quinichette, ''Blow Your Horn'' (Decca, 1956) *

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...

, ''Silver Vibes'' (Columbia, 1960) * Erskine Hawkins, ''1938/1940'' (EPM Musique, 1991) *

Marva Josie Marva Josie (born Marva Josie Spurling, December 9, 1939) is an American jazz singer who was the longtime vocalist for Earl Hines. In 1976 they both played at the White House for President Gerald Ford and later for President Jimmy Carter. Josie ...

, ''Jazz Is His Old Lady... and My Old Man'' (Catalyst, 1977) * Mahalia Jackson, ''Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns'' (Columbia, 1991) *

, '' Ballads & Blues'' (Atlantic, 1956) * Milt Jackson & Ray Charles, ''Soul Brothers'' (Atlantic, 1958) * Etta Jones, ''The Jones Girl.... Etta... Sings, Sings, Sings'' (King, 1958) * Etta Jones, ''Don't Go to Strangers'' (Prestige, 1960) *

Frankie Laine Frankie Laine (born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio; March 30, 1913 – February 6, 2007) was an American Singing, singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned nearly 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to hi ...

& Buck Clayton, ''Jazz Spectacular'' (Columbia, 1956) * Ellis Larkins, ''Blue and Sentimental'' (Decca, 1956) * Howard McGhee, ''Maggie'' (Savoy, 1977) *

The Modern Jazz Sextet ''The Modern Jazz Sextet'' is a jazz album featuring the combined talents of Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Skeeter Best and Charlie Persip. The album was conceived by producer Norman Granz for his own label, Norgran Record ...

, ''The Modern Jazz Sextet'' (Norgran, 1956) * Mel Powell, ''Out On a Limb'' (Vanguard, 1955) * Ike Quebec, '' The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions'' (Mosaic, 1987) * Freddie Roach, ''The Freddie Roach Soul Book'' (Prestige, 1967) * Jimmy Rushing, ''Rushing Lullabies'' (Columbia, 1959) * Jimmy Rushing, ''The Jazz Odyssey of James Rushing Esq.'' (Columbia, 1957) * Jimmy Rushing, ''Mr. Five by Five'' (Columbia, 1980) * Charles Thompson, ''Sir Charles Thompson Trio'' (Vanguard, 1958) * Charles Thompson, ''Rockin' Rhythm'' (Columbia, 1961) * Lucky Thompson, ''Lucky Thompson Featuring Oscar Pettiford Vol. 1'' (ABC-Paramount, 1956) * Lucky Thompson, ''Vol. II'' (ABC-Paramount, 1957) * Cootie Williams, ''Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi'' (RCA Victor, 1958)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best, Skeeter 1914 births 1985 deaths American jazz guitarists Guitarists from North Carolina 20th-century American guitarists Jazz musicians from North Carolina