Jeff Fatt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Fatt AM
Fatt in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Jeffrey Wayne Fatt
Born	(1953-07-21) 21 July 1953 (age 71) Casino, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Children's rock
Occupation(s)	Musician actor
Instruments	Keyboard accordion vocals
Years active	1981–present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	關偉剛
Simplified Chinese	关伟刚
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guān Wěigāng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Gwaan1 Wai5gong1

Jeffrey Wayne Fatt (born on July 21, 1953) is an Australian musician and actor. He is well-known for being a member of the popular children's group The Wiggles. He was part of the group from when it started in 1991 until 2012. Before The Wiggles, Jeff was also in a pop band called The Cockroaches with Anthony Field, who later became another Wiggle.

Jeff was the oldest member of the first Wiggles group. He was famous for pretending to fall asleep during shows. This led to the famous Wiggles catchphrase, "Wake Up, Jeff!" This phrase was even used as the title for one of their songs, videos, and albums.

Early Life and Learning

Jeff was the second youngest of four children. His parents, Norma and Oscar Fatt, owned a large store in Casino, New South Wales, Australia. His great-grandfather moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1896. He became a successful banana seller.

Jeff wanted to be an architect when he grew up. He studied and earned a degree in industrial design. Anthony Field, a fellow Wiggle, once said that Jeff was a "bush kid" who let his keyboard do most of the talking.

Playing in The Cockroaches

Jeff started a business with his brother in Sydney that dealt with sound equipment. Around this time, he also began playing keyboard for a band called the Roadmasters. In 1981, Anthony Field and Paul Field asked him to join their band, The Cockroaches.

As the keyboard player for The Cockroaches, Jeff helped the band become very popular. In 1986, they signed with a record label. Their first album, The Cockroaches, came out in 1987. It reached No. 9 on the Australian music charts and sold 70,000 copies. Their song "She's the One" was a big hit, reaching No. 7 on the singles chart.

Joining The Wiggles

After The Cockroaches band stopped performing in the early 1990s, Anthony Field had a new idea. He called Jeff, who was busy renovating his house, to help record music for a new children's group. Jeff wasn't sure at first, but he agreed to help.

Jeff said that Anthony always had new ideas. When Anthony called, Jeff's first thought was, "Go away, I'm not interested!" But then Anthony explained his idea for The Wiggles. Jeff asked, "Sure, but how long will it take?" Anthony Field later said that Jeff was like a "musical backbone" for The Wiggles, just as he had been for The Cockroaches.

As a Wiggle, Jeff wore a purple shirt, known as a "skivvy."

Fatt (second from left/purple shirt) with the rest of the original Wiggles, during a trip to NASA in 2004.

Jeff also created the Wiggles character Henry the Octopus. He sometimes voiced Wags the Dog too. Jeff mentioned that it took him a year to learn how to talk to preschool children. This included using words like "everybody" instead of "boys and girls." He also said that the first Wiggles shows were hard for him because he wasn't used to being around so many children.

The "Wake Up, Jeff!" Moment

Jeff's special act in The Wiggles was pretending to fall asleep at funny times. This led to the famous Wiggles catchphrase and song, "Wake Up, Jeff!" Jeff was the oldest Wiggle and known for his calm personality. Anthony Field said this made him great to be around while traveling.

Even though it was an act, Jeff really did sometimes nap before shows. He said, "The funny thing is, I'm a very light sleeper at night. I almost always take a nap before the show." Jeff was the only Wiggle who didn't have a background in early childhood education. He said that's why falling asleep was chosen as his act. It was a way to include him in the shows without him having to do too much.

This act made Jeff very popular with the audience. It was a simple way for children to get involved in the show. Kids in the audience felt excited and happy when they got to help "wake up" Jeff.

Stepping Back from Touring

"Wiggly concert": Balloon versions of Jeff and Murray

On May 17, 2012, it was announced that Jeff, along with Greg Page and Murray Cook, would be retiring from touring at the end of the year. Lachlan Gillespie took over as the new purple Wiggle. Jeff and the other original members still help with the creative side of The Wiggles. He also continues to perform in special reunion shows.

In July 2020, Jeff appeared with the other classic Wiggles in a music video called "Circles Baby." In September 2020, he temporarily filled in for Lachlan Gillespie. This was so Lachlan could spend time with his newborn twin daughters. Jeff filmed a four-part series called The Wiggly World Of Dance Classes. He has also appeared in newer Wiggles shows and returned as the voice of Henry the Octopus.

About Jeff's Life

Since 1990, Jeff has taken a photo every day. These photos show the most important thing that happened to him that day. He also used to be a very good surfer.

Family Background

Jeff was featured on an Australian TV show called Who Do You Think You Are? The show revealed interesting facts about his family. His mother's grandfather, David Yong Yee, came to Sydney, Australia, in 1896. He became a successful banana businessman. Later, his family was involved in a successful Chinese-Australian retail store in Hong Kong.

His father's great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Wright, was born in England. She arrived in Australia in 1853. She married Jeff's great-great-grandfather, Lee Young, who was from China. Lee was a storekeeper and later an interpreter for the court in Ararat, Victoria.

Health Update

In July 2011, Jeff had heart surgery. He had been feeling unwell and had a blackout. Doctors found he had a heart rhythm problem and gave him a pacemaker. The surgery was planned and he was expected to recover fully. Because of this, he missed a summer tour in the US, which was the first time he had missed a show in 20 years.

Awards and Recognition

Jeff Fatt and the other original members of The Wiggles have received many honors. In 2006, they were given an honorary doctorate degree from Australian Catholic University. In 2009, they received another honorary doctorate from Macquarie University.

In January 2010, Jeff and the other three original Wiggles were made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award recognized their service to the arts, especially children's entertainment. It also honored their support for many charities. In 2011, Jeff also received an ARIA Hall of Fame Award with The Wiggles.

Music Jeff Has Made

With The Wiggles

With The Cockroaches

Studio Albums

Singles