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.