Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (1904-1943) was a popular American jazz singer, pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer; on radio and records and in movies. His ebullient personality endeared him to a wide jazz and pop audience.

Thomas Wright Waller was born in New York City on May 21, 1904. His father was a Baptist minister; his mother was a musician who played and taught piano and organ. As a child Waller studied piano, bass, and violin, but after a time devoted himself exclusively to keyboards--chiefly piano (with a bit of organ), which he had begun playing at age six. His father wanted him to be a clergyman and objected emphatically when, at age nine, Waller jazzed up a hymn on the church organ.

Waller worked in a grocery store to pay for music lessons and played in his grade school orchestra, which was led by Edgar Sampson (later a famous arranger...