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Fats Waller

File:Fats_Waller_edit.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Fats Waller

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Also known as Thomas Wright Waller, Thomas Fats Waller

American jazz pianist and composer (1904–1943)

Person · Open Library

Works
7

Top works

  • The genius of Thomas 'Fats' Waller
  • Ain't Misbehaving Vocal Selections PVG
  • Thomas "Fats" Waller
  • Thomas Fats Waller
  • The great solos, 1929-1941

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · New York, New York, U.S

Known for

  • The Harlem Nocturne — Fats Waller2018
  • Howard — Self (archive footage)2018
  • This Joint Is Jumpin': Jazz Musician Fats Waller — Self (archive footage)2008
  • The Harlem Renaissance — Self (archive footage)2004
  • It's Black Entertainment — Self (archive footage)2002
  • The Glass Box — Self (archival footage)1985
  • Your Feet's Too Big — Singer1983
  • Ain't Misbehavin' — Self (archive footage)1974
  • Take It or Leave It — (archive footage) (uncredited)1944
  • Stormy Weather — 'Fats' Waller1943

via TMDB

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners
412,115
Total plays
3,526,907

Tags

jazzswingpianobluesjazz piano

Fats Waller (Thomas Wright Waller, May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer. His greatest success came with "Fats Waller & his Rhythm". Thomas Wright Waller was the youngest of four children, born in New York to Adeline Locket Waller and Reverend Edward Martin Waller. He started playing the piano when he was six and graduated to the organ of his father's church four years later. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Fats+Wa

via Last.fm · Fats Waller

Key facts

Born
Thomas Wright Waller , ( 1904-05-21 ) May 21, 1904, New York City, U.S.
Died
December 15, 1943 (1943-12-15) (aged 39), Kansas City, Missouri , U.S.
Occupations
Jazz pianist organist composer singer
Years active
1918–1943
Spouses
Edith Hatch ​ ​ ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1920 ; divorced</span>"}]]}'>div. 1923 ) ​ Anita Rutherford ​ ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1926 ) ​
Relatives
Darren Waller (great-grandson)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Fats Waller edit.jpg
Show 8 more facts
Commons category
Fats Waller
date of birth
1904-05-21
date of death
1943-12-15
birth name
Thomas Wright Waller
pseudonym
Fats Waller
nickname
Fats
start of work period
1918-00-00
name in native language
Fats Waller
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

Works in European collections

1 object attributed to Fats Waller, held across European museums, libraries & archives · via Europeana

~24 min read

Article

Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz piano. A widely popular star in the jazz and swing eras, he toured internationally, achieving critical and commercial success in the United States and Europe. His best-known compositions, "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose", were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 and 1999, respectively.

Waller copyrighted over 400 songs, many of them co-written with his closest collaborator, Andy Razaf. Razaf described his partner as "the soul of melody... a man who made the piano sing... both big in body and in mind... known for his generosity... a bubbling bundle of joy". It is likely that he composed many more popular songs than he has been credited with. When in financial difficulties, he had a habit of selling songs to other writers and performers who claimed them as their own. He died from pneumonia, aged 39.

Gallery (5)

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