Fats Waller
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New York City, New York, United States (1922 – 1943)
Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller (1904–1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and comic entertainer.
He was born Thomas Wright Waller on 21st May 1904 in New York City, New York, United States to a Baptist minister father. The Waller family migrated to Harlem from Virginia. Fats’ grandfather, Adolph Waller, was an accomplished violinist.
Waller started his musical career at an early age. He studied classical piano and organ as a child, taught largely by the music director of his Baptist church, who insisted he also learn the organ works of J.S. Bach. As a young adult, Waller took regular piano lessons from legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson. He also benefited from legendary stride pianist Willie “The Lion” Smith, who gave Fats the nickname “Filthy”. 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; thus, making his first recording in October 1922 when he was just 18 years old.
He was an excellent pianist — now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style. 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. Fats Waller was such an impressive and talented pianist that he came to the attention of the rich and famous - sometimes whether he wanted to or not.
He was born Thomas Wright Waller on 21st May 1904 in New York City, New York, United States to a Baptist minister father. The Waller family migrated to Harlem from Virginia. Fats’ grandfather, Adolph Waller, was an accomplished violinist.
Waller started his musical career at an early age. He studied classical piano and organ as a child, taught largely by the music director of his Baptist church, who insisted he also learn the organ works of J.S. Bach. As a young adult, Waller took regular piano lessons from legendary Harlem stride pianist James P. Johnson. He also benefited from legendary stride pianist Willie “The Lion” Smith, who gave Fats the nickname “Filthy”. 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; thus, making his first recording in October 1922 when he was just 18 years old.
He was an excellent pianist — now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style. 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. Fats Waller was such an impressive and talented pianist that he came to the attention of the rich and famous - sometimes whether he wanted to or not.
Shouts:
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Featured Tracks
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Top Albums
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"Yacht Club Swing" & Other Radio Rarities
Fats Waller
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A Handfull of Fats
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20.3003-HI (1of2) - Believe in Miracles
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Shoutbox
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Reignmund wrote:
Fats, you magnificent bastard!
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RRRRRicardo wrote:
Do you walk up to people on the streets also and tell them that they shouldn't smoke because it kills people so it's bad?
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RRRRRicardo wrote:
LoL, well you have the opposite effect on me. I'm now especially going to click on that picture of him smoking and will vote it up! It's an awesome picture anyway!
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Cazweigun wrote:
Away from the arguing...................I love Fats, he was such a great pianist, funny too. Some of his songs and lyrics make me laugh.
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JOEmeow wrote:
that is definitely not tobacco.
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keresaspa wrote:
@Parisblues So if people disagree with you then you try to get them removed from the site. Very mature and very democratic. And it is teach your grand mother how to suck eggs not tell.
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keresaspa wrote:
@Parisblues. I can't speak for ToothandNail04 but I don't smoke, I just don't like people ramming their opinion down other people's throats and I oppose people attempting to promote censorship. Fats Waller and all the other artist pages you have targeted smoked, if that annoys you just don't listen to their music but stop annoying people by forcing your hard-line views upon them on what is after all a music site. And the word is "tobacco" not "tabacco". I appreciate English is not your first language but if you are going to put the same message everywhere at least spell it properly.
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keresaspa wrote:
Vote up the smoking pics - we don't need censorship on last.fm!
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ToothandNail04 wrote:
parisblues pls go
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ToothandNail04 wrote:
parisblues pls go
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Druid66 wrote:
This joint is jumpin' and Fats Waller is the reason why.
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JOEmeow wrote:
dude used to be a pimp.
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catholicbird wrote:
Top Tracks needs more organ work.
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Buffalo_JFK wrote:
Fats Waller said rewind please.
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IamFlood wrote:
How did he smoke while playing?
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Availen wrote:
Will always associate this with Eraserhead
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NapoMarx wrote:
More music today needs the playful lyrics and virtuosity present in Waller's tunes
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headphonia wrote:
Two Sleepy People is great!
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johntardsbaby66 wrote:
EYEBROW SOLO
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Barbecutioner wrote:
it's the way that cha do it
Videos
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your feet's too big
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ULHS 2007 - Couples Performance…
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By the Light of the Silvery…
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Recent Activity
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CalpurniaAddams, JARB1933, gendervariant and 2 other people added Fats Waller to their libraries. 34 minutes ago
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myrk74 uploaded Fats Waller to Fats Waller’s images. Wednesday afternoon
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myrk74 tagged Fats Waller with ‘jazz’. Wednesday afternoon
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Marilu-Muse, Fathertymme, FarqyofFib and 7 other people added Fats Waller to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
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cgern tagged Fats Waller with ‘oldies’. last week
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bibob777 tagged Fats Waller with ‘sidney bechet’. last month
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bibob777, CapDi11er, adaywayne and 12 other people added Fats Waller to their libraries. last month
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Uhwelluh wrote about Fats Waller in Nightspots & Ballrooms broadcast. last month
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Kaybrand added Fats Waller to Kaybrand’s library. last month
Related Journals
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Nightspots & Ballrooms broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
20 Jan 2012
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New Tunes broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
10 Jan 2012
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Fats Waller Songbook broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
25 Nov 2011
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