Fats Waller: His Life and Times is a penetrating account of the jazz scene from the dawn of the Jazz Age in the 1920s to the beginning of the Second World War, when Thomas Wright 'Fats' Waller became master of the pop song with such hits as Ain't Misbehaving and Honeysuckle Rose.

Drawing on the memories of many who knew Fats, Joel Vance tracks his development as a performer who captivated audiences with his ebullience, his ribald humour and his unique musical style - from his early days playing in Harlem movie houses to his last years as star of records, radio and films.

Laced with colourful tales of Fats' encounters with many of the other legendary jazzmen of his day - including James P. Johnson, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Louis Armstrong, Earl Fatha Hines and Art Tatum - what emerges is not only the personal tale of the man and the musician, but also a vivid recreation of a very distinctive era of American history.

"A fascinating book which brings together all the things previously known about Fats in a highly entertaining and readable way, and adds a lot more that was new to me." - HUMPHREY LYTTLETON

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