Fats Waller, whose real name was Thomas Wright Waller, was a towering figure in the golden age of jazz and swing music and is considered one of the greatest pianists of his time. Born on May 21, 1904, in New York City, Waller was a prodigious talent from an early age, with his prowess on the piano quickly earning him a reputation as a masterful performer and an ebullient entertainer. Renowned for his effortlessly swinging playing style and his infectious humor, Waller was not just a pianist but also a skilled organist, a notable composer, and a lively singer.

Waller's musical style was characterized by its joyous energy and his remarkable ability to blend various musical genres, including jazz, blues, and stride piano. His compositions such as "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Honeysuckle Rose," and "Jitterbug Waltz" have become jazz standards, immortalizing his legacy. His recording career was prolific, and his performances, both live and on the radio, kept him at the forefront of the music scene until his untimely death from pneumonia on December 15, 1943. Fats Waller's influence on the development of jazz piano is incalculable. His work continues to be celebrated and revered by music enthusiasts around the world, as evidenced by his recordings, which remain popular and continue to be reissued for new generations to discover and enjoy.

Genres

Dixieland

Harlem Renaissance

Jazz

Jazz Piano

Stride

Swing

Tin Pan Alley

Vintage Jazz

Vocal Jazz

Related Artists

Count Basie

Duke Ellington

Louis Armstrong

Cab Calloway

Benny Goodman

Art Tatum

Earl Hines

Teddy Wilson

James P. Johnson

Jelly Roll Morton

Nat King Cole

Ella Fitzgerald

Latest Release

Hold My Hand b/w Frenesi (Live)

Fats Waller

Single - Released August 18, 2023