Fats Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was the son of a preacher and learned to play the organ in church with his mother. In 1918 he won a talent contest playing James P. Johnson’s “Carolina Shout” which he learned from watching a pianola play the song. He would later take piano lessons from Johnson.Fats began his recording career in 1922 and made a living playing rent parties, as an organist at movie theatres and as an accompanist for various vaudeville acts. In 1927 he co-wrote a couple of tunes with his old piano teacher James P. Johnson for his show Keep Shufflin’. Two years later Waller wrote the score for the Broadway hit Hot Chocolates with lyrics supplied by his friend Andy Razaf.
Fats’ most famous song, “Ain’t Misbehavin'” was introduced in this show which featured Louis Armstrong. Fats Waller’s big break occurred at a party given by George Gershwin in 1934, where he delighted the crowd with his piano playing and singing. An executive of Victor Records, who was at the party was so impressed that he arranged for Fats to record with the company. This arrangement would continue until Waller’s death in 1943. Most of the records he made were released under the name of Fats Waller and his Rhythm. The group consisted of around half a dozen musicians who worked with him regularly, including Zutty Singleton. Throughout the 1930s and early 1940s Fats was a star of radio and nightclubs, and toured Europe. He unexpectedtly died on board a train near Kansas City, Missouri of pneumonia in 1943.
A special thanks to Owen Miller and James Gallup for their help with the recordings on this page.
Also See: Fats Waller: Profiles in Jazz
| Thomas Waller With Morris’s Hot Babies | Fats Waller and his Buddies |
| Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Fats Waller and his Orchestra |
| Fats Waller and his Continental Rhythm | Fats Waller his Rhythm and his Orchestra |
| Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
| African Ripples (Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | Bluebird B-10115 |
| After You’ve Gone * (Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton) | 3-21-1930 | New York, New York | Victor 22371-B |
| A Handful Of Keys (Fats Waller) | 3-1-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| A Handful Of Keys (Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Harry Brooks) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Harry Brooks) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| All God’s Chillun Got Wings | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27460 |
| Alligator Crawl (Fats Waller / Andy Razaf) | 11-16-1934 | New York, New York | Bluebird B-10098 |
| Baby Brown (Alex Hill) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (1) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (2) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (3) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (1) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RFW |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (2) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RFW |
| Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be? (3) (Ted Koehler/ Frank Magine) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RFW |
| Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams) | 6-11-1937 | New York, New York | Victor 25631 Victor 27767 Bluebird B-10115 |
| Because Of Once Upon a Time | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | RFW |
| Believe It, Beloved (Nat Burton / J.C. Johnson / George Whiting) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Birmingham Blues (McCord / Matthews) | 10-21-1922 | New York, New York | Okeh 4757-B |
| Blue Black Bottom (Mike Jackson / Fats Waller) | 2-16-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Blue Turning Gray Over You (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Bye Bye Florence Vocal Chorus by Bert Howell | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 21062-B | |
| California, Here I Come (Buddy Desylva / Al Jolson / Joseph Meyer) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Carolina Shout (1) (James P. Johnson) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Carolina Shout (2) (James P. Johnson) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor 27563 |
| Clothes Line Ballet (Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | Victor 25015 Bluebird 10098 |
| Deep River (Fats Waller) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27459 |
| Dinah (Samuel Lewis / Joseph Young / Harry Akst) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Do Me a Favor (Jack Lawrence / Peter Tinturin) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Down Home Blues (Tom Delaney) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Draggin’ My Poor Heart Around (Alex Hill) | 3-13-1931 | New York, New York | Vocalion 3016 Columbia 14593-D |
| E-Flat Blues (Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Florence Vocal Chorus by Juanita Stinnette Chappelle | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 21062-B | |
| Georgia On My Mind (Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor 27765 |
| Goin’ About (1) (Fats Waller) | 9-11-1929 | New York, New York | Pirate |
| Goin’ About (2) (Fats Waller) | 9-11-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Gladyse (1) (Fats Waller) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Gladyse (2) (Fats Waller) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Go Down, Moses (traditional arranged by Fats Waller) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27458 |
| Hallelujah (Things Look Rosey) (Leon Flatow / Frank Magine / Eugene West) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | RFW |
| Handful Of Keys (Fats Waller) | 3-1-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 27768 Victor 38508 |
| Hog Maw Stomp (1) (Fats Waller) | 2-16-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Hog Maw Stomp (2) (Fats Waller) | 2-16-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Honeysuckle Rose (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Honeysuckle Rose (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor |
| How Can You Face Me? (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| I Ain’t Got Nobody (Abel Baer / Samuel Lewis / Joseph Young) | 12-1-1927 | New York, New York | Victor 21127 |
| I Ain’t Got Nobody (Abel Baer / Samuel Lewis / Joseph Young) | 6-11-1937 | New York, New York | Victor 25026 Victor 25631 Victor 27766-B Bluebird B-10133 |
| I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor |
| I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby (Fats Waller / Alex Hill) | 3-13-1931 | New York, New York | Columbia 14593-D |
| I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby (Fats Waller / Alex Hill) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (1) (Fats Waller / Harry Link / Billy Rose) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (2) (Fats Waller / Harry Link / Billy Rose) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (Fats Waller / Harry Link / Billy Rose) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Keeping Out Of Mischief Now (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 6-11-1937 | New York, New York | Bluebird 10099 |
| Lennox Avenue Blues (Fats Waller) | 11-17-1922 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 20357-B |
| London Suite – Picadilly (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10059 |
| London Suite – Chelsea (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10059 |
| London Suite – Soho (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10060 |
| London Suite – Bond Street (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10060 |
| London Suite – Limehouse (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10061 |
| London Suite – Whitechapel (Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV B10061 |
| Lonesome Road (Nat Shilkret / Gene Austin) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27459 |
| Loveless Love (W.C. Handy) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 23260 |
| Love Me Or Leave Me (1) (From the Ziegfeld Production “Whoopie”) (Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Love Me Or Leave Me (2) (From the Ziegfeld Production “Whoopie”) (Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Love Me Or Leave Me (3) (Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RCA X |
| Minor Drag (Fats Waller) | 3-1-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Messin’ Around With The Blues Blues (2) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Messin’ Around With The Blues Blues (3) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Muscle Shoals Blues (George W. Thomas) | 10-21-1922 | New York, New York | Okeh 4757-A |
| My Fate Is In Your Hands (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 12-4-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| My Fate Is In Your Hands (Fats Waller / Andy Razaf) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| My Feelin’s Are Hurt (Fats Waller) | 9-11-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Night Wind (David Pollack / Bob Rothberg) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Numb Fumblin’ (Fats Waller) | 3-1-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Ring Dem Bells (Duke Elington) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor 27563 |
| Rockin’ Chair (Hoagy Carmichael) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor 27765 |
| Russian Fantasy (Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Solitude (Duke Elington / Irving Mills) | 5-13-1941 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Solitude (Duke Ellington) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Somebody Stole My Gal (Leo Wood) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Sweet Sue (Young / Harris) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Soothin’ Syrup Stomp (1) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Soothin’ Syrup Stomp (2) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Sloppy Water Blues (1) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Sloppy Water Blues (3) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Smashing Thirds (Fats Waller) | 9-24-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Smoke Rings Of You (Gibsone / deGreville) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV |
| Stardust (Mitchell Parrish / Hoagy Carmichael) | 6-11-1937 | New York, New York | Bluebird 10099 |
| St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy) | 11-17-1926 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 20357-A |
| St. Louis Blues * (W.C. Handy) | 3-21-1930 | New York, New York | Victor 22371-A |
| Sugar (Maceo Pinkard) | 2-16-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 23331 |
| Sweet Savannah Sue (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Harry Brooks) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (traditional arranged by Fats Waller) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27458 |
| Tanglefoot (1) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RFW |
| Tanglefoot (2) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | RFW |
| Tea For Two (Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Tea For Two (Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar) | 6-11-1937 | New York, New York | Victor |
| The Digah’s Stomp (Fats Waller) | 12-1-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 21358 |
| The Rusty Pail (1) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| The Rusty Pail (3) (Fats Waller) | 1-14-1927 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| That Old Feeling (Lew Brown / Sammy Fain) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor |
| That’s All (Fats Waller) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor 23260 |
| Turn On The Heat (Buddy DeSylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson) | 12-4-1929 | New York, New York | Victor |
| Valentine Stomp (1) (Fats Waller) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Valentine Stomp (2) (Fats Waller) | 8-2-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Vipers Drag (Fats Waller) | 11-16-1934 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Waiting At The End Of The Road (1) (Irving Berlin) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Bluebird |
| Waiting At The End Of The Road (2) (Irving Berlin) | 8-29-1929 | Camden, New Jersey | Victor |
| Waterboy (Convict Song) (traditional arranged by Fats Waller) | 8-28-1938 | London, England | Victor 27460 |
| Where Were You On the Night of June 3rd? | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| You Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It (Williams / Fats Waller) | 6-13-1939 | London England | HMV |
| You’re The Top (Cole Porter) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Zonky (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller) | 3-11-1935 | New York, New York | HMV |
| Artist | Instrument |
| Adeline Hall | Vocals |
| Benny Payne | Piano (*Duet with Fats) |
| Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Brooks) | 1-1929 | New York, New York | QRS 7883 |
| A New Kind Of Man With A New Kind Of Love For Me (S. Clare / L. Flatow) | 8-1924 | New York, New York | Play-A-Roll 0677 |
| Clearing House Blues (S. Honesty / H. Webb) | 7-1924 | New York, New York | QRS 2661 |
| Cryin’ for My Used To Be (Bob Thompson) | 2-1927 | New York, New York | QRS 3800 |
| Do It Mr. So-and-So (Myrtle Barger / Lukie Johnson) | 6-1924 | New York, New York | QRS 2708 |
| Don’t Try to Take My Man Away (Tausha Hammed) | 6-1924 | New York, New York | QRS 2711 |
| 18th Street Strut (Bennie Moten / Costello) | 3-1926 | New York, New York | QRS 3377 |
| Got to Cool My Doggies Now (Bob Thompson / Spencer Williams) | 3-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2149 |
| Haitian Blues (Spencer Williams / Lizzie Miles) | 8-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2304 |
| If I Could Be With You (Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson) | 3-1927 | New York, New York | QRS 3818 |
| I’m Coming Virginia (Will Marion Cook / D. Hayward) | 11-1927 | New York, New York | QRS 4073 |
| I’m Crazy Bout My Baby (Fats Waller / Alex Hill) | New York, New York | QRS 5143 | |
| Jail House Blues (Bessie Smith / Clarence Williams) | 6-1924 | New York, New York | QRS 2661 |
| Last Go Round Blues (Jimmy Cox) | 9-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2363 |
| Laughin’ Cryin’ Blues (Porter Grainger / Bob Ricketts) | 5-1927 | New York, New York | QRS 2213 |
| Low Down Papa (Spencer Williams) | 8-1923 | New York, New York | QRS |
| Mama’s Got the Blues (Sara Martin / Clarence Williams) | New York, New York | QRS 2322 | |
| Midnight Blues (Bob Thompson / Spencer Williams) | 8-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2331 |
| Nobody But My Baby (Is Getting My Love) (Andy Razaf / Clarence Williams) | 8-1927 | New York, New York | QRS 3997 |
| Papa Better Watch Your Step (Walls / Cooper) | 7-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2286 |
| Snake Hips (Spencer Williams) | 6-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2256 |
| Squeeze Me (Clarence Williams / Fats Waller) | 2-1926 | New York, New York | QRS 3352 |
| Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do (Porter Grainger / E. Robbins) | 6-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2270 |
| Wild Cat Blues (Fats Waller / Clarence Williams) | 5-1928 | New York, New York | Automatic Music Roll A1418 |
| You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did (James P. Johnson /A. Moore) | 1-1924 | New York, New York | QRS 2444 |
| Your Time Now (Spencer Williams) | 5-1923 | New York, New York | QRS 2245 |
| Title | Director | Year |
| King of Burlesque | Sidney Lanfield | 1935 |
| Hooray for Love | Walter Lang | 1935 |
| Stormy Weather | Andrew L. Stone | 1943 |
| A special thanks to Mike Donovan for help with the recordings on this page. |
