Ain’t Misbehaving…
“I know for certain
The one I love
I’m through with flirtin’
It’s just you I’m thinking of
Ain’t misbehavin’
I’m savin’ my love for you”
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Music and lyrics by Fats Waller, Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf
This great song from 1929, Ain’t Misbehavin’, is an excellent example of the Harlem stride style Jazz – characterized by a strong oom-pah beat in the left hand and syncopated melodies in the right hand. Fats Waller, a master of this style, created a unique sound by fusing blues, classical, boogie-woogie and ragtime. (The Kenedy Center) Fats Waller was bigger than life. His good friend and collaborator Andy Razaf said Waller was “the soul of melody…a man who made the piano sing…both big in body and mind… known for his generosity… a bubbling bundle of joy.”
In 1926, while performing in Chicago, he was famously kidnapped by Al Capone’s men and taken to the Hawthorne Inn – Capone’s headquarters. Rather than being harmed, he was escorted to the piano and paid $100 per song to play at Capone’s birthday celebration. After three days - sometimes falling asleep on the keyboard - Waller left with $100 bills stuffed in his shirt, pants, socks, coat and hat.
Though Fats Waller toured Europe, crossed racial boundaries, and copyrighted over 400 songs, he actually composed many more. When money was tight, he often sold the rights to his compositions – some very well-known and popular songs became hits under other names. Despite his enduring legacy, a series of poor financial decisions greatly diminished the amount of wealth available to pass on to Waller’s family.
Here at HPK Provident Advisors we want you to “tickle the ivories” while living a fulfilled life – and keep you from Misbehavin’ when it comes to your financial legacy. We are here to help you protect what matters most: your loved ones.