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Fats Waller
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Thomas Wright “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 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.
He was an excellent pianist — now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style. Many believe that his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality often 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”. 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.
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.
He was an excellent pianist — now usually considered one of the very best who ever played in the stride style. Many believe that his songwriting and his lovable, roguish stage personality often 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”. 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.
Top Albums
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Honeysuckle Rose
Fats Waller
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Welcome To Jazz
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20.3003-HI (1of2) - Believe in Miracles
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Top Tracks
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Ain't Misbehavin'
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Honeysuckle rose
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Handful Of Keys
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Your Feet's Too Big
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It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
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Dinah
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Two Sleepy People
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I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby
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Alligator Crawl
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Numb Fumblin'
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The Joint is Jumpin'
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Lulu's Back in Town
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The minor drag
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| 15 |
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Your Feets Too Big
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Shoutbox
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RedigaRehder wrote:
Amiable
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scherz0 wrote:
He sounds way ahead of his time somehow. His facial expressions were awesome. FATS FOREVER. One just never knows, do one?
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pantazonis wrote:
yowza!!
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tegotetab wrote:
I don't know if anyone else is aware of this, but Fats Waller is the ultimate Jenga music.
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TheLorenzo wrote:
he and louis armstrong smoked bud together. :D
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thekidwiththefa wrote:
I was always into Fats, I've been playing his stuff on piano for quite a while now. But when I saw Be Kind Rewind, I did NOT expect something of that sort to be in a movie starring Jack Black. I expected another dumb funny movie, but all the Fats Waller stuff was actually pretty touching.
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pedalero wrote:
I adored the documentary of Fats Waller in Be Kind Rewind =)
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Aurora_Feizul wrote:
Do you intend to put an end to a sweet beginning like this? <--They play that song during the ending credits of The Notorious Bettie Page and she just died yesterday :( Such a beautiful song.
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AllyWonderland wrote:
lol@The "Be Kind Rewind" comments. I almost forgot about that movie. Anyways, I love "Dinah."
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neland wrote:
Świetna energetyczna muza :)
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dnkjazz wrote:
Amazing Guy ;)
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ineedlunch wrote:
love, love, love, love me some fats waller, he has inspired me to be a better person, somehow the music , damn there poem things, hes fucking awesome
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Holzhaus wrote:
Ain't Misbehavin', Savin' my Love for you....
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claraisthebest wrote:
be kind rewind:)
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MichaelWinner wrote:
sexytime
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Gloomlight wrote:
Honeysuckle rose is so hauntingly beautiful, speechless !
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Lumsden20 wrote:
This is great.
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Singulair wrote:
my life is sweet with this in it
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prusseit wrote:
If you really love Fats Waller's music, you will like the things we're currently playing here in Germany: http://www.lastfm.de/music/Mick%27s+Washboard Happy listening!
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bachrodi wrote:
i'm a viper.
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Recent Activity
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mineolo, emutile, drewaustin and 2 other people added Fats Waller to their libraries. 3 hours ago
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Uhwelluh wrote about Fats Waller in Money broadcast. yesterday afternoon
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RudsterFigs, lurchgs, ivanshello and 1 other person added Fats Waller to their libraries. yesterday morning
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Crimson-Eyed tagged Fats Waller with jazz and american. Saturday morning
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VirtualPhoton, townsendjs, viathin12 and 28 other people added Fats Waller to their libraries. Friday evening
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maxandthefive tagged Fats Waller with blues and piano. 11 days ago
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XratzfatzX and PFogg75 added Fats Waller to their libraries. 11 days ago
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Anaminai tagged Fats Waller with oldies, blues, jazz piano and 3 other tags. 11 days ago
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AlfredPMcLovely, herchules1 and nelladarrigo added Fats Waller to their libraries. 11 days ago
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Uhwelluh wrote about Fats Waller in St Louis Blues broadcast. 12 days ago
Related Journals
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Money broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
29 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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St Louis Blues broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
18 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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V-Disc broadcast
by Uhwelluh |
11 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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