24 Facts About Fats Navarro

Theodore "Fats" Navarro was an American jazz trumpet player and a pioneer of the bebop style of jazz improvisation in the 1940s.

Fats Navarro was bilingual, speaking Spanish as his second language, and he was a childhood friend of drummer Al Dreares.

Hence, the younger Fats Navarro began to play piano at age six, although he did not become serious about music until he began playing trumpet at the age of thirteen.

Now living permanently in the Midwest, Fats Navarro joined Snookum Russell's territory band.

Fats Navarro gained valuable experience touring in bands, including Russell's band, where he met and influenced a young JJ Johnson.

Fats Navarro played in the Andy Kirk, Benny Goodman, and Lionel Hampton big bands.

Fats Navarro befriended other trumpet players including Howard McGhee and his third cousin Charlie Shavers.

Fats Navarro made his last recordings with Kirk and Eckstine in January and March 1946, respectively.

Fats Navarro participated in small group recording sessions with Kenny Clarke, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet, and Howard McGhee.

Fats Navarro instead joined pianist Tadd Dameron's group based at the Royal Roost jazz club in New York.

Fats Navarro preferred the financial security of being a band member over being a bandleader.

Fats Navarro won the Metronome Jazz Poll in 1948, enabling him to join the Metronome Jazz All-Stars for a studio session.

Fats Navarro reunited with McGhee in late 1948 for yet another recording session, this time including Milt Jackson on his second instrument, the piano.

Fats Navarro began touring in 1948, this time with Lionel Hampton's band.

Fats Navarro's illness proved to be tuberculosis, but he continued to play despite declining health.

Fats Navarro's continued narcotics use hastened the progression of the disease.

Fats Navarro toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic in early 1949.

Fats Navarro appeared on two studio sessions that year: with Bud Powell for The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol.

Fats Navarro performed on live recordings twice at Birdland prior to his death, but the dates of those performances are disputed; what is certain is that both were recorded in 1950, and that they included Parker and Miles Davis respectively.

Fats Navarro, nicknamed "Fat Girl" due to his weight and high speaking voice, developed a heroin addiction, tuberculosis, and a weight problem.

Fats Navarro was hospitalized on July 1,1950, and he died five days later on July 7 at the age of 26.

Fats Navarro died of tuberculosis in New York City on July 6,1950, and was survived by wife Rena and his daughter Linda.

Fats Navarro was buried in an unmarked grave, number 414, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey.

In 1982, Fats Navarro was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame.