Fats Waller

Here is the intimate, behind-the-scenes story -- told by his son -- of the legendary jazz man Thomas "Fats" Waller. It's as lively as Fats himself, a musical wizard who was famous for his reckless energy, bottomless capacity for food and drink, and prodigious talents as composer, entertainer, and piano stylist.

Fats's story is the story of the Harlem rent parties where jazz flourished in the Twenties, of Tin Pan Alley, "race records," a stormy marriage, some outrageous adventures -- including a hair-raising encounter with Al Capone -- the desperate years of selling songs for the price of a drink, the countless jazz clubs and one-night stands, and the sweet rise to the top.

It's also the story of a generation of jazz legends, Fats's friends: James P. Johnson, who taught Fats the Harlem Stride piano style, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Irving Berlin, Eubie Blake, Eddie Condon, Willie "The Lion" Smith, George Gershwin, and many others.

For convenient reference, a listing of recording dates and personnel is provided.