Fats Waller-I'm Coming Virginia

[KawhackitaRag]

I had heard OF these recordings, but never actually heard them before. Who did the registration? Mr. Ronald Curtis himself?

Regardless, this sounds a lot better than I thought it would, considering that the QRS rolls were not originally intended to play an organ (unlike, for example, "Pop" and "Picturoll" rolls made by the Filmusic Co. of Los Angeles; these were specifically designed to work on American Fotoplayers, although they also play fine on regular home player pianos).

Thanks!

[everybodylovesmybaby]

I think this is actually being played on the Estey pipe organ at the Victor recording studio in Camden, New Jersey, by Fats.

[lennietristanojazz]

@everybodylovesmybaby It's from the album "Fats" Waller at the Organ from 1981. They took his piano rolls and ran them through an organ fitted with a player piano mechanism.

[InevitableItWas]

It scares me how much talent and vitality Fats had. The recordings are overwhelming -- just imagine the man in person!!!

[sailin1934]

it is my understanding that he was creamated and his ashes were scattered over harlem

[Pentagonshark666]

Fats should be cloned.he was the man who made from piano a singing

bird.

[zzausel]

@Pentagonshark666 Fats will never die. Clones nuff.

[genatzvalee]

Fats is classy and brilliant, both as a performer and songwriter. I admire his style a lot!

[083770]

@flatopguy NOT ME! I agree that being there to witness the birth of the best music on earth - JAZZ - would've been beyond AWESOME, but I sho don't wish I was born then. That's okay for you, but we was getting our asses whupped daily.

[083770]

Thank you for posting this tribute to a very talented brother who contributed so much to our African heritage.

[NatKingCole46]

beautiful pictures of fats waller

[NatKingCole46]

@NatKingCole46 also very nice and successful recording of "I'm Coming Virginia", the song is pretty thoughtful, thanks to the uploader!

[Pentagonshark666]

a stunning timeless masterpiece.Thomas was a man who can a call genius.

too bad he left from world at such a young age.RIP.

[hardkace42]

very earserhead lovely

[jgraif]

thank you for posting this. i would like to add that fats really loved the theatre organ and played it very well. so, it's not just by chance that these piano rolls were used to play a theatre pipe organ

[Pentagonshark666]

yeah the reason was pneumonia

pretty sure.

[rh710522]

I'm sorry, I'm kind of a dough-head. I know he passed away young, but of what?

[Shackamaxon]

I'm not positive but I believe it was liver failure. Fats consumed massive quantities of alcohol and went without sleep sometimes for 3 days. Sooner or later that kind of lifestyle is gonna catch up with you.

[JamesPriceJohnson]

i think it was pneumonia actually... im not sure

[aoxomoxoa88]

@JamesPriceJohnson It was pneumonia. He died on a train between gigs.

[nelsandrew]

ahhh--so nice to hear talented people play! Thanks-

[MookRyan]

Wow! I've never listened much to Waller's organ music -

this is fantastic! Thanks so much for posting it!

[florianchurch]

My lovest music!

Thanks for positing.

[kieraneastwood123]

Just to let you know i have this on Lp vinyl and its piano rolls cut betwen 1923-1927 transposed through a piano player mechinism to play the Compton theatre organ at the home of Ronald Curtis. It was recorded onto LP in 1981. Just though id give you that information. Thanks for posting jazzgirl1920s

very happy to see someone posting such unusualy rare recordings on youtube its very good to see/hear thankyou very much

[Pentagonshark666]

This was a man who you can really call

a genius,he made many of major

masterworks.he brilliant on organ

also a stunning pianist.what a genius

we lost.he's life was a burned like

a candle.he died at the age of 39.

Higher on piano are only Mozart.