Fats WallerFats Waller (May 21, 1904 - December 15, 1943) was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer. He was born Thomas Wright Waller in New York City. Waller studied classical piano and organ before apprenticing himself to legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson. Johnson introduced Waller to the world of rent parties (a party with a piano player, designed to help pay the rent by charging the guests), and soon he developed a performing career. He was an excellent pianist--now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style--but his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality ("One never knows, do one?") overshadowed his playing. Before his solo career, he played with many performers, from Erskine Tate to Bessie Smith, but his greatest success came with his own five- or six-piece combo, "Fats Waller and his Rhythm". Among his songs are "Squeeze Me" 1919, "Ain't Misbehavin'" 1929, "Blue Turning Grey Over You" 1930, "Honeysuckle Rose" 1929, "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" 1929, and "Jitterbug Waltz" 1942. He collaborated with the Tin Pan Alley lyricist Andy Razaf and had a commercially successful career, which according to some music critics eclipsed his great musical talent. His nickname came about because he weighed nearly 300 pounds (136 kg). His weight and drinking are believed to have contributed to his death. Waller also made a successful tour of the British Isles in the late 1930's, and appeared in one of the earliest BBC Television broadcasts. He also appeared in several feature films and short subject films, most notably "Stormy Weather" in 1943. With Razaf he wrote "What Did I Do (To Be So Black and Blue)?" 1929 which became a hit for Louis Armstrong. This song, a searing treatment of racism, black and white, calls into question the accusations of "shallow entertainment" levelled at both Armstrong and Waller. On December 15, 1943, at age 39, Waller died aboard an eastbound train in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri, following a west coast engagement. Samples
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On December 15, 1943, at age 39, Waller died aboard an eastbound train in the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri, following a west coast engagement. They also recorded a version of Jingle Bells for the film The Santa Clause. This song, a searing treatment of racism, black and white, calls into question the accusations of "shallow entertainment" levelled at both Armstrong and Waller. Yello also created the soundtrack for the British comedy film Nuns on the Run and the American movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. With Razaf he wrote "What Did I Do (To Be So Black and Blue)?" 1929 which became a hit for Louis Armstrong. The single "Oh Yeah" alone has been featured in numerous TV commercials, been the soundtrack for American Football on US TV and included in at least five different Hollywood movies, while another top single, "The Race" has been heavily used by Eurosport. He also appeared in several feature films and short subject films, most notably "Stormy Weather" in 1943. This characteristic has made Yello popular in the TV, advertisement and movie industries. Waller also made a successful tour of the British Isles in the late 1930's, and appeared in one of the earliest BBC Television broadcasts. Yello's music is by its fans often described as very visual, creating dramatic movie-like visions in their minds. His weight and drinking are believed to have contributed to his death. Every instrument has been sampled and engineered by Boris Blank, who over the years has built up an original sample library of over 100,000 named and categorized sounds. His nickname came about because he weighed nearly 300 pounds (136 kg). Every track on a Yello album has been created by the band from scratch. He collaborated with the Tin Pan Alley lyricist Andy Razaf and had a commercially successful career, which according to some music critics eclipsed his great musical talent. Yello takes great pride in their original sound which is mainly characterised by weird samples, a heavy reliance on rhythm and Dieter Meier's dark voice. Among his songs are "Squeeze Me" 1919, "Ain't Misbehavin'" 1929, "Blue Turning Grey Over You" 1930, "Honeysuckle Rose" 1929, "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" 1929, and "Jitterbug Waltz" 1942. Peron left the band in 1983 to start a solo career. Before his solo career, he played with many performers, from Erskine Tate to Bessie Smith, but his greatest success came with his own five- or six-piece combo, "Fats Waller and his Rhythm". Dieter Meier, a millionaire playboy with a very versatile career, was brought in when the two founders realised that they needed a singer. He was an excellent pianist--now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style--but his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality ("One never knows, do one?") overshadowed his playing. Yello was originally formed by Boris Blank and Carlos Peron, often referred to as the band's third unknown member, in the late 1970s. Johnson introduced Waller to the world of rent parties (a party with a piano player, designed to help pay the rent by charging the guests), and soon he developed a performing career. The song became famous after being featured in the American movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Johnson. They are probably most well-known for their single "Oh Yeah" which featured a rich mix of
electronic music and vocals manipulation. Waller studied classical piano and organ before apprenticing himself to legendary Harlem stride
pianist James P. Download sample of "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" by Fats Waller. Eccentrix (remix)(1999). Pocket Universe (1997). Zebra (1994). Essential Yello (compilation)(1992). Baby (1991). Flag (1988). One Second (1987). 1980-1985 The New Mix in One Go (remix)(1986). Stella (1985). You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess (1983). Claro Que Si (1981). Solid Pleasure (1979). |