African-American pianist Fats Waller wrote such jazz standards as “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and earned fame for his comedic radio performances in the 1930s. Synopsis Born on May 21, 1904, in New York City, Fats Waller was influenced as a teenager by jazz great James P. Johnson. He proved a gifted piano player and songwriter, delivering such jazz standards as “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” In the 1930s, Waller’s fame … Continue reading Fats Waller (1904–1943)
Synopsis Dinah Washington sang in and played the piano for her church choir and in 1939 began to sing and play piano in various Chicago nightclubs. From 1943 to 1946 she sang with the Lionel Hampton band and in 1946 began a successful solo career. During the period from 1949 to 1955, her recordings were consistently among the top 10 hits of the rhythm-and-blues charts. Continue reading Profile: Dinah Washington
Who Was Marian Anderson? Born February 27, 1897, in Philadelphia, Marian Anderson displayed vocal talent as a child, but her family could not afford to pay for formal training. Members of her church congregation raised funds for her to attend a music school for a year, and in 1955 she became the first African American singer to perform as a member of the Metropolitan Opera … Continue reading Profile: Marian Anderson
Black Art Story 