Fats Waller

Fats 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

  • Download sample of "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" by Fats Waller

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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. External Links. This song, a searing treatment of racism, black and white, calls into question the accusations of "shallow entertainment" levelled at both Armstrong and Waller.
. With Razaf he wrote "What Did I Do (To Be So Black and Blue)?" 1929 which became a hit for Louis Armstrong.
. He also appeared in several feature films and short subject films, most notably "Stormy Weather" in 1943. Famous songs include : "The Size Of A Cow", "Dizzy", "Don't Let Me Down, Gently" and "It's Yer Money I'm After Baby", " Better Get Ready For A Fistfight ".

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. The line-up for this album is Hunt and Treece plus Andres Karu and Mark McCarthy. His weight and drinking are believed to have contributed to his death. Their first new album for over a decade, Escape From Rubbish Island, is released in September 2004. His nickname came about because he weighed nearly 300 pounds (136 kg). The band initially split in 1994, but have reformed for a few live tours from 2000 onwards. 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. In 1990 Martin Bell joined the band and Paul Clifford replaced Rob Jones.

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. 1993) and Martin Gilks. 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". The original line-up was Miles Hunt, Malcolm Treece, Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones (d. 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. The Wonder Stuff are a band originally based in Stourbridge West Midlands, near Wolverhampton UK. 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 all new 'still under construction' unofficial wonder stuff website (http://www.rascom-it.co.uk/tws2004/index.htm).

Johnson. Message Board (http://red.vkool.com/~admin23/phpBB/). Waller studied classical piano and organ before apprenticing himself to legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Official Site (http://thewonderstuff.co.uk). He was born Thomas Wright Waller in New York City. Escape From Rubbish Island, 2004. Fats Waller (May 21, 1904 - December 15, 1943) was an African-American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer. Cursed With Insincerity (live), 2001.

Download sample of "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" by Fats Waller. Love Bites and Bruises (compilation), 2000. Live In Manchester (live), 1995. The Singles (compilation), 1994. If The Beatles Had Read Hunter ..

Construction for the Modern Idiot, 1993. Dizzy (single, with Vic Reeves), 1991. Never Loved Elvis, 1991. Hup, 1989.

The Eight Legged Groove Machine, 1988.