Pianist, singer and songwriter, Thomas “Fats” Waller was one of the legendary and unique personalities of early jazz and the swing era between 1918 and 1943. He was an artist with an unmistakably distinctive style and a way with a song whose work transcended the different strands of jazz that emerged during the 20 years or so when he established his reputation and enjoyed all his success as a recording artist.
He was renowned as an influential innovator of the Harlem style of stride piano, but also became famous playing the organ and celeste on his sessions. Recording both solo and in small groups, and equally well-known and loved for his instrumental and vocal recordings, he had more than 60 hits between 1929 and 1943, when he died suddenly from pneumonia at the age of 39. In 1970, Waller was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 1993 was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
This 75-track collection contains all his hits plus selected other recordings which are among his most highly-regarded and popular work. It naturally features the recordings for which he is best-known, including his No.1s with Truckin’, A Little Bit Independent, All My Life, It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie, Smarty and Two Sleepy People. Also included on this 3CD compilation are timeless classics such as Honeysuckle Rose, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter.
It’s a substantial and enjoyable showcase for one of the great personalities of jazz who was taken way too soon, but whose influence can still be felt in popular music today.