Born on May 21, 1904, American jazz composer and singer Thomas Wright”Fats” Waller became famed for his Harlem stride style and laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano before his premature death at 39 on December 15, 1943.  His best known compositions Ain’t Misbehavin and Honeysuckle Rose were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame 1984 and 1999 respectively. For his distinctive originality, Aloha Promises Forever rates the album below as a 10 out of 10.

A compilation of some of his best tracks was collected as If You Got To Ask You Ain’t Got It.  This album may be listened to here: