Fats Waller was born in Harlem in 1904. Raised to be a church organist, he was disowned by his strict preacher father when he decided to play the "Devil's music" on piano. He studied under the great pianist-composer James P, Johnson, and became one of the leading exponents of the difficult Harlem "stride" school. Unfortunately, his high happy life brought him to an early death in 1943.
Thomas "Fats" Waller, piano.
New York NY 12/4/29 Victor V-38568
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