Fats Waller

Home > ... > Literature and the Arts > Performing Arts > Music: Popular and Jazz: Biographies > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Fats Waller

Fats Waller 1904-43, American jazz musician, singer, and composer, whose original name was Thomas Wright Waller, b. New York City. Waller began playing the piano as a child, and later studied with Carl Bohm and Leopold Godowsky. He became a protégé of James P. Johnson, who gave him piano lessons and furthered his career. From about 1920, Waller appeared in night-clubs and theaters, and in the 1930s he began recording. Waller's style influenced many jazz pianists. His compositions include Ain't Misbehavin', Black and Blue, Honeysuckle Rose, and London Suite.

Bibliography: See biography by E. Kirkeby (1975); study by P. S. Machlin (1985).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Waller-F" title="Facts and information about Fats Waller">Fats Waller</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Fats Waller." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Fats Waller." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Waller-F.html

"Fats Waller." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Waller-F.html

Learn more about citation styles

Waller, Fats

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Waller, Fats (1904–43) US jazz and blues pianist and composer, b. Thomas Waller. He wrote many successful tunes, including “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain't Misbehavin'”.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-WallerFats" title="Facts and information about Fats Waller">Fats Waller</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Waller, Fats." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Waller, Fats." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-WallerFats.html

"Waller, Fats." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-WallerFats.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music entry for Waller, ‘Fats’

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Fats Waller Performs Hits from "Ain't Misbehavin'" to Commemorate 30th Anniversary of Show. Business Wire; 11/14/2008
	Fats Waller and His Buddies. Magazine article from: National Review; 7/6/1992
	Fats Waller: the Last Years, 1940-1943. Magazine article from: National Review; 3/5/1990

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Profile: Fats Waller who would have celebrated his 100th birthday next Friday Transcript from: Weekend Edition - Saturday (NPR); 5/15/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...NPR) 05-15-2004 Profile: Fats Waller who would have celebrated his 100th...of "Carolina Shout") VITALE: Fats Waller studied with James P. Johnson...Casey played rhythm guitar with Fats Waller for 10 years. Casey is now 88...
	Analysis: Sampler of music by Fats Waller released Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 5/21/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...Analysis: Sampler of music by Fats Waller released Host: MICHELE...Waller, otherwise known as Fats Waller, the pianist...And though we get to see Waller perform, I'd rather...CD and DVD are called "Fats Waller: Centennial Celebration...
	Profile: Fats Waller Transcript from: NPR Morning Edition; 5/21/2004; ; 652 words ; ...NPR) 05-21-2004 Profile: Fats Waller Host: RENEE MONTAGNE Time: 11...Clown Prince of Jazz. Music legend Fats Waller was born 100 years ago today...KAHN: Even by today's standards, Fats Waller was huge, an African-American...
	BALLADS, BAWD A ROUSING DOSE OF FATS WALLER.(Local)(Theater review) Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 6/5/1986; 700+ words ; ...Martin P. Kelly The enigma of Fats Waller's life and music is succinctly...RAM III Ltd. Enterprise. Waller's fun-loving life concealed...revue in 1978, using some of Waller's 500 songs to capture the...in a Harlem revue number, "Fat And Greasy," that is pure...
	A jazz master for all times; Memories of Fats Waller.(OPED)(SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 5/17/2004; 700+ words ; ...grateful for a new 21-track CD, the Fats Waller Centennial Collection, that should...took more than a few takes. And Fats Waller was the embodiment - in and out...solo piano revelation. Maurice Waller, Fats' son and also a pianist, told...
	Fats Waller's joyful music kicks off JVC Jazz Festival News Wire article from: AP Online; 6/16/1998; ; 668 words ; ...jazz opened the JVC Festival with a tribute to Fats. ``Your Feets Too Big _ the Music of Fats Waller'' featured older jazz musicians who found...used. He said the song was a important to Fats Waller and to many people: ``It belongs...
	CanStage-Fats Waller: Spreadin' Rhythm Around...by Rosie Shaw Newspaper article from: CCNMatthews Newswire; 5/19/2005; 700+ words ; ...knows, do one?" Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller was an international star not just...chords against a right-hand melody. Waller was also one of the first in jazz...Count Basie studied with him, but Waller's unique style influenced many...
	Skylight's Fats Waller tribute a good time for all Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 5/18/2003; ; 700+ words ; Skylight's Fats Waller tribute a good time for all By DAMIEN...to be at the top of your guest list. Fats Waller was a supersized bundle of musical...revue of 26 songs written or recorded by Fats Waller. Twice a hit on Broadway, it...
	CD REVIEW; Fats Waller doesn't miss a beat on 'Transcriptions' Newspaper article from: The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA; 1/26/2002; ; 505 words ; ...Ledger Any time you're feeling down, Fats Waller is a good antidote. Who could feel...sang and played piano and organ, Fats learned hymns and the harmonium at...on the Night of June The Third?" FATS WALLER: The 1935 Transcriptions...
	Al Casey Dies at 89; Guitarist for Fats Waller Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 9/14/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...Guitarist Al Casey, 89, who joined Fats Waller's band in high school and provided...Mr. Casey's association with Waller lasted from 1933 until the pianist...overshadowed he might have been by Waller's dynamic piano style and flirtatious...