Pat Flowers

Pat Flowers grew up under the influence of Thomas "Fats" Waller, and schooled himself in the challenging art of Harlem stride piano, eventually developing a dazzling technique. For a little while during the mid-'40s, he even worked for the Victor record company as a Fats Waller imitator in a belated maneuver by Victor to compete with Vocalion, whose Waller emulator during the '30s was Putney Dandridge, and with Decca, whose ebullient singing pianist Bob Howard was still emitting Wallerisms in 1947. Each of these men was at his best when staying true to his own talent and perso...