Skeeter Best
Clifton Best, known professionally as Skeeter Best, was born on November 20,
1914, in Kinston, North Carolina. He learned guitar from his mother and debuted
professionally in 1930 with Abe Dunn's local band. Best worked with Slim
Marshall and recorded with Erskine Hawkins before joining Earl Hines' orchestra
from 1940 to 1942. After serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II, he
collaborated with Bill Johnson and toured Japan and Korea with Oscar Pettiford.
Best gained prominence through his participation in the Soul Brothers session
with Ray Charles and Milt Jackson in 1957...
