FATS WALLER
Name: Thomas Wright Waller
Born: May 21, 1904 New York City
Died: December 15, 1943
Fats Waller (born Thomas Wright Waller on May 21, 1904, died December 15, 1943)
was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer.
A skilled pianist -- widely recognized as a master of stride piano -- Waller was
one of the most popular performers of his era, finding critical and commercial
success in his homeland and in Europe. Waller was also a prolific songwriter,
with many songs he wrote or co-wrote still known to modern audiences, such as "Honeysuckle
Rose", "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Squeeze Me". Fellow pianist and composer Oscar
Levant dubbed Waller "the black Horowitz" in a favorable comparison to Russian
pianist Vladimir Horowitz[1] In the 1920s and 30's Waller quickly sold some of
his compositions just after they were written, and as they became hits, other
songwriters had already claimed them as their own. Some standards are
alternatively attributed to Waller, a matter of some debate.
Name: Thomas Wright Waller
Born: May 21, 1904 New York City
Died: December 15, 1943
Fats Waller (born Thomas Wright Waller on May 21, 1904, died December 15, 1943)
was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer and comedic entertainer.
A skilled pianist -- widely recognized as a master of stride piano -- Waller was
one of the most popular performers of his era, finding critical and commercial
success in his homeland and in Europe. Waller was also a prolific songwriter,
with many songs he wrote or co-wrote still known to modern audiences, such as "Honeysuckle
Rose", "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Squeeze Me". Fellow pianist and composer Oscar
Levant dubbed Waller "the black Horowitz" in a favorable comparison to Russian
pianist Vladimir Horowitz[1] In the 1920s and 30's Waller quickly sold some of
his compositions just after they were written, and as they became hits, other
songwriters had already claimed them as their own. Some standards are
alternatively attributed to Waller, a matter of some debate.