The great Fats Waller was once playing in a night club in Harlem when another pianist dropped in. Upon noticing the newcomer, Waller stopped playing, stood up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I only play the piano, but tonight God is in the house.” It was Art Tatum.
My mom used to crack up when they played this song on the radio, probably in the 1940s, long before radio stations confined themselves to "genres." Our little station in a small Wyoming town played everything from country to R & B, jazz, show tunes, old tunes and -- as they say -- much, much more: melodramas, comedy shows, kids shows, baseball games --
I've been listening to Fats for nearly 35 years, and today is the first time I've actually WATCHED him perform !!! What a treat ! Listening to his piano playing is great; his little editorial asides are outrageous, but to watch him mug his way through a song like "Your Feet's Too Big" is just too much !!! I'm sorry I was not able to see him perform live; would've loved to have know him ! Thanks for posting this !
Nothing like seeing the "whole package"- Fats tickling the ivories, singing with expression, and throwing ad-libs through it all !! He died in 1943, so I doubt any of us saw him "live".
Yeah, Fats really is one for the ages. He wouldve found acceptance & success in the 21st Century, if it were his time. And NOTHING beats ragtime. Nothing! Joplin, Ellington, Basie, Holliday, Fitzgerald & everyone- - I just never get tired of it I realize 1935 was the Depression & all, but its moments like these that make me think tough times bring out the best in people. So much comedy & entertainment borne of struggle & hard times. It just made people MORE determined to enjoy themselves. That was my g.g.grandparents & my g.grandparents time. But I wouldve loved to have just one night in one of those old black-&-tans like this one, esp with Fats 🎼 🎹 🎺 🎤
Fats’ talent as a pianist is matched only by his songwriting. He certainly was a master performer of his time and it’s such a shame he died, as many performers in that era did, so young.
He had a lot of money problems and I believe hs once sold 50 of his songs for a few dollars - they included many that became smash hits in the 30s but under someone elses name!
Learned about this song years ago. (Not that many) amd today Tom Waits brought me here. Life is good only sometimes. Today is one of those days. My feets to big and I still love this song
@@dmg3691 Yes, we desperately need a folks few back: Fats Waller, James Baldwin, George Carlin, Malcom X, Ethel Rosenberg, Kate Wolf, Mahalia Jackson, Utah Phillips. Whoa, talk about different genres LOL
@@jeffreyantonson8029 John Lennon, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Billie Holliday, Nancy Wilson, Paul Robeson, et al.
un homme qui nous apporte autant de joie longtemps après son trépas doit avoir une part d'ange en son âme. Gloire à son oeuvre, paix à son âme, joie à ses auditeurs
@Pentagonshark666 The celebrated concert pianist Simon Tedeschi said he considered Fats Waller one of the great pianists of the 20th century. He is never underrated, especially by people who try to play his music. Fats and his great bricklayer hands can achieve more on a piano than most people, and it looks so effortless. I love you feet's too big, but as I have been trying unsuccessfully to play Honeysuckle Rose for years, that's the piece I envy most.
Hearing this I suddenly remember: more than fifty years ago I listened to this in our department store. Extended play, 45 rpm, green and white sleeve. Loved it then, too.
will smith once said "you know what they say about people with big feet", "what do they say," the dad from fresh prince responded with an angry tone. Will Smith then said, "um...they say....they say damn.... those are some big feet." lol.
Filmed and originally released in 1941, and shown on "Panoram" film jukeboxes (they looked like a cross between a jukebox and a TV set, only they projected short musical films- "Soundies"- instead of playing records, at 10 cents a song). In the late '40s, Official Films reissued this and other "Soundies" on 16mm for "home movie projectors".
He was real and always will be, as long as people appreciate true talent. He was true talent and as usual when it comes to great performers, died too young.
I'm reading the description like "wow, Usenet. That was ages ago. Before my time" Then settling in to listen to a song from when my grandpa was in single digits..
I looooove Fats! and I love listening to the many versions of this song. he is never boring and I love how he always tried different things with the same songs.
The one . . . the only . . . even a kidnapping for three days to play for "Big Al" in the twenties couldn't stop him . . . the master of the stride . . . he wrote, he composed . . .who was ever better . . .Fats.
In light of modern myths, this video is incredibly hilarious. However, to view it through that lense kind of ruins the purity of this video, which is charming on its own. Love it.
Wow, crazy... this version is so stripped down and simplified from the recording I'm used to -- it's missing that amazing little intro that's very slightly dissonant, and the melody he sings is almost entirely different as well. I came here after watching an IGGY POP interview where he cited Fats Waller as an influence; the interviewer said that Iggy's influences were conventional.. and Iggy said something like: "They weren't in their time!" Which is so true. Fats, we love you, original you.
