- Jun 24, 2003
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For Black History Month, I'm posting a few numbers by one of my favorite musical artists, Thomas "Fats" Waller. He was a singer, composer, comedian, and outstandingly talented pianist. He sadly died in 1943 at age 39. He wrote some well-known popular songs, and was a master of the stride piano. Where the right hand plays the melody, with the left hand playing often widely separated chords. Necessitating the left hand "striding" back and forth over the keys. This style grew out of ragtime, and was a forerunner of swing and modern jazz. A few of his well-known songs:
The movie clip includes some stereotypes that are somewhat cringe-worthy today. But it shows off his over-the-top comedic singing style, and piano work:
One of his instrumentals. You can hear the ragtime influence. The man could definitely tickle those ivories:
The movie clip includes some stereotypes that are somewhat cringe-worthy today. But it shows off his over-the-top comedic singing style, and piano work:
One of his instrumentals. You can hear the ragtime influence. The man could definitely tickle those ivories:
