How Fats Helped Make Louis Armstrong Famous

“One song, a synthetic but entirely pleasant jazz ballad called 'Ain’t Misbehavin''' stands out, and its rendition between the acts by an unnamed member of the orchestra was a highlight of the premier."
~The New York Times (about Louis Armstrong's performance in 1929)

How Fats Helped Make Louis Famous

History records that Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo") only worked with Fats Waller twice. They met in 1925, and in 1929 Andy Razaf invited Louis to sing a new Fats song, "Ain't Misbehavin'" during an Off Broadway showing of Hot Chocolates, a musical review composed by Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, with the book by Razaf. Louis was an unknown member of the orchestra and sang from the pit.

Louis zipped back up to Harlem to be in the band for another production of the show at Connie's Inn. But, the review for the Broadway production raved that the song and the unknown singer was a highlight of the show. Armstrong's name didn't appear in the program at first, but his fame spread quickly, as his opening night success got his name added to the bill and he began to appear on stage for the song. Louis made a tribute album in 1955 called, "Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller" after Fats passed away in 1943. Armstrong's recording of "Ain't Misbehavin'" remains one of his most successful of all time.

"Fats is gone now, but to me he's still here with us. His very good spirit will keep him with us for ages. Right now, every time someone mentions Fats Waller's name, why you can see the grins on all the faces, as if to say 'Yea, yea, yea, yea!'"
~Louis Armstrong