A celebrated jazz pianist, organist, and composer, "Fats" Waller was a protege of the famous pianist James P. Johnson in the 1920s, and later accompanied. such important vocalists as Bessie Smith. He recorded hundreds of his own compositions encompassing ragtime, boogie woorie, dixieland and swing styles, and he influenced generations of jazz pianists. Waller also performed on radio and in several motion pictures. Familiar works include "Honeysuckle Rose," "Ain't Misbehavin'," and "Black and Blue."