Fats Waller-Sugar-1927

Fats Waller was born in New York City in 1904, the son of a Baptist preacher. He was tutored on the church organ by his mother. As a youngster, he played the organ at the Lincoln Theater in New York as a silent film accompanist. In 1922 he began his recording career when the 18 year old cut two sides for OKEH, Muscle Shoals Blues and Birmingham Bertha. In '27 he played with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra and in '28 made his Carnegie Hall debut. The 30s found Fats touring Europe and the US. In 1932, Fats Waller's Rhythm Club was heard over powerful WLW in Cincinnati. When Jelly Roll Morton's fame started to fade, the popularity Fats garnered from the radio show persuaded Victor to sign him as their new jazz star. Many of the recordings of the Rhythm Club were million sellers. As a special compliment to Fats, the contract with Victor was not exclusive. Fats was allowed to record with other labels-and did so. Fats wrote the musical score for Hot Chocolates and his most famous song "Ain't Misbehavin" was introduced in that show. Fats also starred in Stormy Weather with Lena Horne, Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers in 1943 but died soon afterward at age 39.

The Victor Talking Machine Company used the old Camden Baptist church because of its excellent acoustics-a necessity for a good studio before the days of electric microphone recordings.
Sugar was recorded acoustically at the Camden Studios in February 1927.

Thanks to the Estey Organ Virtual Museum for many of the pictures of the organs and posters used in this vid.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fats
• Waller
• Estey
• Organs
• jazz
• 1920s
• 78s
• 78RPM
• organ
• music
• Victor
• Records
• Camden
• Sugar

[MsMarc1234]

This was the time, when fat people would make it a part of their name instead of being taboo. We have gone backwards.

[preservationhall01]

@MsMarc1234 I can tell by comments on YT that the great majority of people are sick of all this freedom of speech denial in the name of "political correctness". A certain select group used to proudly call themselves Chocolate People before PC when brown really was beautiful and before politicians and self appointed leaders such as The Right Reverend Jessee Jackson and "Reverends?" Farakhan and Wright preached to them that they were "victims (who of course needed their guidance), LOL

[MsMarc1234]

@preservationhall01 One thing is youtube. Its a whole other beas to deal with IRL. People, including myself, have a lot more guts behind a screen. There wasnt alot of screens to hide behind in the 20-30s

[preservationhall01]

@MsMarc1234 People in this country can still get fired from their job simply for offending someone or some class. The people who are castigated for exercising free speech and who are breaking no laws, are the real victims here, I fear. Realize please, that offenses are committed on both sides but only one side is punished for their offense. The US constitution is becoming a worthless document that is a mere museum piece in Washington DC.

[syncopeter]

Fats was the by far the first jazz organist who actually recorded prolifically on disc. Preceding most of his colleagues by ten years or so. He also pioneered on Hammond organ. He was probably the most versatile keyboard player of his age , because, what hardly anybody knows, he was very well studied in classical music too. He loved to play Bach, Mozart and Beethoven and according to ear witnesses was extremely good at it. But contracts forced him to be the genial clowning funny 'fat' man.

[preservationhall01]

@syncopeter As far as I know, he was the only entertainer ever invited to play the organ at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris~ and rock the house he did!

[Pentagonshark666]

thx posting my favorite waller's organ

stuff.

[SwingBandHeaven]

Great recording - never knew that Fats made organ recordings.

[TheNEWfilmfanatic99]

This was in Eraserhead!

[rodney1238]

thanks for posting fat's was one of the best at organ playing his style was his alone. love it.

[roybo1930]

THANK GOD!!!!