Fats Waller piano 1904 New York City
Fats Waller was probably one of the most influential pianists and composers that jazz ever produced. As a child, Fats played the reed organ during church services led by his father, a Baptist lay preacher. At age 15 he became the organist at the Lincoln Theatre. There is some evidence to support Waller's claims that during his formative years he studied with Leopold Godowsky, and also that he studied composition with Carl Bohm at the Juilliard School. In October, 1922, Waller made his first recordings for the Okeh label: "Muscle Schoals Blues", and "Birmingham Blues". Around this time he also began accompaning blues singers including Sara Martin, Alberta Hunter and Maude Mills. In 1923 a collaboration with Clarence Williams led to the publication of "Wild Cat Blues" which became a standard still played today. By this time Fats was composing material that was being performed by other famous jazz people. 1923 saw his broadcasting debut for a local station in Newark. Working with lyricists, Waller composed such hits as "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Black And Blue". He also wrote a show called "Hot Chocolates" that included his famous "Ain't Misbehavin' . In the mid '30s Fats worked on the West Coast with Les Hite's band, and appeared in several films. In 1938 Waller began touring and recording extensively in Europe. The last few years of Waller's life involved frequent recordings and extensive touring in the States. In 1943 he returned to Hollywood to film "Stormy Weather" with Lena Horne, in which he led an all-star band. The touring, constant abuse of his system through overeating and overdrinking, and the nervous strain of many years of legal trouble over alimony payments all took their toll, and his health began to break down. Fats Waller died in 1943 while on a train trip to New York from California.
Bill Holman bandleader 1927 Olive CA
Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Gerry Muligan, Woody Herman and countless others all had one thing in common: many of their best charts were written by Bill Holman. Holman, a tenor saxophonist and composer is undoubtedly more famous for his big band charts than anything else. He studied music at WestlakeCollege and first played with Charlie Barnet's band. In 1966 Bill gave up playing to devote his efforts to arranging and composing. From the mid '70s, Bill led a big band in the Los Angeles area while also working as a producer for a prominent recording company in Cologne, Germany, along with MelLewis, Mark Murphy and Phil Woods. Bill Holman is a rare talent, in that he does it all. His big band charts are of the highest quality and in demand by bandleaders and student bands in this country and throughout Europe.
