New York-born Fats Waller began playing piano professionally at the age of 15,
much to the disapproval of his clergyman father. He soon rose to be one of the
most popular performers of his era, known throughout the United States and
Europe. A measure of his popularity is that he was once kidnapped at gunpoint
and driven to a surprise party for the gangster Al Capone and ordered to play.
It's rumoured the gig lasted two or three days and Waller was eventually
returned safely, several thousands of dollars richer.
He wrote many songs which became standards of the day and is credi...