Fats Waller

Thomas Wright Waller, known as Fats Waller, was a stride pianist, composer, comedian, and entertainer whose exuberant personality and virtuosic keyboard technique made him one of the most popular performers of the 1930s and early 1940s. His compositions ('Ain't Misbehavin',' 'Honeysuckle Rose,' 'The Joint Is Jumpin',') are cornerstones of the American popular songbook. While primarily associated with jazz and stride piano, Waller's music was deeply rooted in the blues, and his influence on subsequent blues and boogie-woogie pianists was significant. His humorous vocal delivery and his ability to transform mediocre songs into entertaining performances were legendary. He died of pneumonia at age 39.