We associate the song “Ain’t Misbehavin‘” with the jazz pianist Thomas “Fats” Waller (1904-1943) but forget that the lyrics were by one Andy Razaf (1895-1973) who gives us a musically more interesting back-story.
Razaf was born in Washington, D.C. His birth name was Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo. His father, part of the royal family of Madagascar was killed during the French invasion of that country and his pregnant mother, the 15-year old daughter of a black American diplomat, was forced to escape to the United States.
He and his mother moved to Harlem, and at the age of 16 Andy quit school and took a job as an elevator operator at a Tin Pan Alley office building.
A year later he penned his first song text, embarking on his career as a lyricist. Swept up by the Harlem Renaissance, Razaf published poems in the emerging black press and soon was working with several Harlem composers.
Collaborating with Waller, they wrote—along with “Ain’t Misbehavin’”—many now-classic songs including “Honeysuckle Rose,” “The Joint is Jumpin’,” and ”Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now.” In 1972, Razaf was recognized by his Tin Pan Alley peers in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Fats” Waller was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem “stride” style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano. Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a look and listen to Fats himself.
His best-known composition is our song, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and it was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984. Waller copyrighted over 400 songs, many of them co-written with his closest collaborator, Razaf,
who described his partner as “the soul of melody… a man who made the piano sing… both big in body and in mind… known for his generosity… a bubbling bundle of joy.” It’s possible he composed many more popular songs and sold or gave them to other performers when times were tough. Who knows?
How about some jazz organ? Tap or click on the triangle in the next image for something a bit different.
Meanwhile, back to our song!
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” was written in 1929 for the Harlem and Broadway musical comedy “Connie’s Hot Chocolates”—a revue featuring black artists that, because of its popularity, was one of the earliest Harlem musicals to move to Broadway and play for predominantly white audiences.
Girls from the 1929 show:
It is said that Waller had the idea for the song while “lodging” in prison (for an alimony violation), and that is why he was not “misbehaving!” Razaf picked up the theme and ran with it.
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a listen to our song from the distaff side.
Now , here’s Another back-story that has to do with, of all folks, Louis Armstrong.
Armstrong made his Broadway debut as part of the pit band for the “Hot Chocolates” show. His cornet solo on opening night was such a hit with the audience that he was asked to perform it on stage for the rest of the show’s run. Another musical tidbit!
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a listen. The earworm starts to take hold!
Our song has been around a long, long time and has been covered by nearly everyone in nearly every genre. It was the theme of a movie, with an all-white cast.
It was also a popular Broadway Musical based on the works of Waller/Razaf with an all-black cast.
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a look and listen to bits of this musical biography.
Here are a few other interpretations—choose your earworm of the day!
We can acknowledge the fact that none of we are “misbehavin’.” Or are we?
STAY TUNED!
NOHOBANJO OF NORTHAMPTON, AND NOW EASTHAMPTON, "MUSICAL MUSINGS" 