Thomas “Fats” Waller was a legendary stride pianist, a wildly entertaining comedic singer, and the composer of such classic melodies as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and hundreds more. This is the intimate, behind-the-scenes story of his exuberant life, as told by his son, Maurice Waller. The public knew him as a charming, rascally, and effervescent showman. Friends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin knew him as a serious piano stylist and composer. Maurice Waller reveals the rarely seen side of Fats as a family man, struggling to juggle domestic affairs with the demands of being one of the era’s busiest jazz men. From his earliest days as a child prodigy to his wild nights playing Harlem rent parties to his appearances on stages around the world and his eventual commercial success, it’s all here. Few stories capture the frenetic energy of the age quite as well as the life story of this rollicking, hard living jazz icon.

(Piano Solo Personality). The 2nd edition now features 16 of Waller's best, including: African Ripples * Ain't Misbehavin' * Alligator Crawl * Clothes Line Ballet * E-Flat Blues * Gladyse * Handful of Keys * Honeysuckle Rose * I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling * Keepin' Out of Mischief Now * My Feelings Are Hurt * Numb Fumblin' * Russian Fantasy * Smashing Thirds * Valentine Stomp * Viper's Drag.

Radio and television broadcasts are an essential component in the career of jazz musician Thomas "Fats" Waller. The medium suited his character well, allowing his friendly, energetic personality to shine through. This book meticulously documents Waller's on-air appearances: from his first known broadcast in 1923 at age 19 to the final airing before his premature death in 1943. Fats Waller On The Air: The Radio Broadcasts and Discography adds another dimension to the life of this dynamic performer. Author Stephen Taylor combines established material with fresh research, resulting in a wealth of new information. The broadcasts, including tributes to Waller after his death, are covered in detail, featuring dates, times, songs played, and other artists who appeared on the program. Through descriptions from contemporary newspapers and magazines, accounts from individuals who were in attendance, and remarks by radio announcers from original transcripts, the book provides historical perspective and a clear sense of the character and feel of the broadcasts. The book also offers a timechart of early sound recording and radio transcriptions, allowing easy comparison of Waller's presence in the field. Never before published photos and a thorough, accurate discography-including 78 and 45 rpm records, transcriptions, LPs, CDs, and DVDs-make this an important reference tool for fans of Fats Waller, jazz music, stride piano, black social history, and broadcast history.

Jazz is a vibrant and a living art, and this volume serves to remind us of that fact through interviews with Art Tatum, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dave Brubeck, along with almost 20 other jazz greats. Meet the greatest musicians in the history of jazz. From Hoagy Carmichael to David Sanborn, these interviews and their subjects reflect the diverse appeal and deep roots of a truly American art form. Some of the interviews in Jazz Notes: Interviews across the Generations remain intact from their original publication. Others are updated to include conversations with younger artists, influenced by these legends and attempting to carry on their legacies. The interviews range from the 1970s to the present day and are followed by a concluding section that provides perspective from current artists. In the course of the interviews, the history of American art and culture receives interesting augmentation. Some artists, such as Dave Brubeck and Maynard Ferguson, discuss how they broke through to the top of the pop charts. Of course, many African American jazz musicians endured difficult and demeaning conditions while on the road in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, and their memories of these experiences are a bittersweet counterpoint to remembered triumphs.