Jeff Fatt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jeff Fatt | |
|---|---|
 Jeff Fatt of The Wiggles during a concert in Washington, D.C., 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Wayne Fatt |
| Born | July 21, 1953 (age 54)
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| Years active | 1980 – present |
| Associated acts | The Cockroaches The Wiggles |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Murray Cook Jeff Fatt Anthony Field Sam Moran |
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| Former members | |
| Greg Page Phillip Wilcher |
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| Notable instrument(s) | |
| accordion Piano Hammond b3 |
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Jeff Fatt (born July 21, 1953 in Casino, New South Wales, Australia), is a Chinese Australian musician and actor. He is best known as a member of the children's band The Wiggles and the 1980s and 90's band The Cockroaches. As part of the Wiggles, Fatt became one of the "most popular Asian performers in the world".[1]
The son of Chinese parents who owned a large retail store in Casino, New South Wales, Fatt had aspirations to become an architect,[1] and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design. He opened a portable address equipment business with his brother in Sydney, Australia when he began playing keyboard for the rockabilly band The Roadmasters, and was recruited by Anthony and Paul Field to join The Cockroaches.[2]
After The Cockroaches disbanded in the early '90's, Anthony Field asked Fatt, who was renovating his house at the time, to help them record The Wiggles' first album in 1991.[3] Fatt reported, "I got this call from Anthony: 'Hello, Anthony. Go away, go away. I'm not interested,' you know. He's always got these ideas for things. He said, 'I've got this idea, come down to the studio.'" Fatt's response to Field's request was, "How long will it take?"[4]
As a Wiggle, Fatt wears a purple shirt. He originated the Wiggles character Henry the Octopus, and performed his voice when other actors took over the role. His schtick was sleeping at odd times, which led to a Wiggles' catch-phrase and the title of one of their songs, "Wake Up, Jeff!" Fatt is the oldest Wiggle and is well-known for his "laid-back personality".[1] As Sam Moran has said, when referring to the development of The Wiggles' schticks, "Jeff really does fall asleep",[5] and Fatt reported, "The irony is I’m a very light sleeper in the nighttime. I will invariably have a snooze before the show".[6] Fatt was the only member of The Wiggles without a background in early childhood education; he stated that was the reason falling asleep was chosen as his schtick, "because it was a way of getting me involved in the shows without actually having to do anything".[7]
Since 1990, Fatt has taken a photo a day documenting the most eventful thing that has happened to him.[1] He is "a keen surfer".[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Blake, Elissa. "Unusual suspects", Daily Telegraph, 2007-09-02. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ a b Jeff. The Wiggles Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
- ^ About Us. The Wiggles Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-07-31.
- ^ Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, episode 15, The Wiggles. ABC TV Online (2003-06-23). Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
- ^ Durden, Douglas. "A new face", Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
- ^ Markstrom, Serena. "Fab Four of kid rock comes to town", The Register Guard, 2008-03-21. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Tabakoff, Jenny. "Wake up, Aunty!", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2002-10-01. Retrieved on 2007-11-26.
