#fatswaller

"This is so nice, it must be illegal."

~  Fats Waller

Tatum's Influences & Fats Waller (Interview By Willis Conover)

Ain't Misbehavin' is the classic jazz song (1929)

Origins: Composed by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks, with lyrics by Andy Razaf. It was originally written for the off-Broadway revue Connie's Hot Chocolates.

Historical Impact: The song became a massive hit and is considered a definitive anthem of the Harlem Renaissance. Louis Armstrong's performance in the Broadway version of Hot Chocolates helped skyrocket the song's popularity.

Recognition: Waller's 1929 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984. It is also preserved in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Theme: The lyrics describe a narrator remaining faithful to their love by staying home and avoiding late-night flirting ("just me and my radio").

FATS WALLER: THE SMILE THAT HID THE BLUES

He made the world laugh — but who comforted him?

Fats Waller’s “Black and Blue” wasn’t just a song — it was a confession.

Back in the day in Chicago we used to have a program called Image Union - music videos, tv shows and documentaries would premiere there. Think of it as old school Adult Swim but on a local level.

When I saw the last live TS Madison was on when she was at a bodega in NY, I had the idea that a series like that (where she and her crew are hanging out at the bodega) would have fit right in to a show like that at the time.

Teddy Wilson – Blues For Thomas Waller

Teddy Wilson’s homage to Fats Waller was recorded January 28 and 31, 1974 at O’Neal Studios in NYC for the Black Lion label.