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 72) Casino, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Children's rock
Occupation(s)	Musician actor
Instruments	Keyboards 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 best known as the purple Wiggle from the popular children's group The Wiggles. He was part of The Wiggles from when it started in 1991 until 2012. Before that, he played in a pop band called The Cockroaches with Anthony Field, who also became a Wiggle.

Jeff was the oldest member of the original Wiggles group. He was famous for pretending to fall asleep during shows. This led to the well-known Wiggles phrase, "Wake Up, Jeff!", which was also the name of a song, video, and album.

Jeff Fatt's Early Life and Background

Jeff Fatt was the second youngest of four children. His parents, Norma Wong Yee and Oscar Fatt, owned a large store in Casino, New South Wales, Australia. His great-grandfather moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1896 and became a successful banana businessman. Jeff wanted to be an architect and studied industrial design. Anthony Field once said that Jeff was a "bush kid" who let his keyboard do most of the talking.

Playing in The Cockroaches Band

Jeff started a business with his brother in Sydney. Around that time, he began playing keyboard for a band called the Roadmasters. Later, Anthony Field and Paul Field asked him to join their band, The Cockroaches. Jeff joined The Cockroaches in 1981 as their keyboard player.

In 1986, the band signed with a record label. Their first album, The Cockroaches, came out in 1987. It was very popular, selling 70,000 copies and reaching number 9 on the Australian music charts. Their song "She's the One" was their biggest hit, reaching number 7 on the singles chart.

Joining The Wiggles Group

After The Cockroaches band stopped performing in the early 1990s, Anthony Field asked Jeff to help record music for a new children's group. Jeff was busy renovating his house at the time. He remembered Anthony calling him and saying, "I've got this idea, come down to the studio." Jeff agreed, asking how long it would take.

Jeff became a very important musical part of The Wiggles, just like he was for The Cockroaches. As a Wiggle, Jeff wore a purple skivvy, which is a type of shirt.

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, even when other actors played the roles. Jeff said it took him a year to learn how to speak to preschool children, like using "everybody" instead of "boys and girls." He also mentioned that their first shows were a bit difficult for him because he wasn't used to being around so many children.

The "Wake Up, Jeff!" Moment

Jeff Fatt's special act was pretending to fall asleep at unexpected times. This led to the famous Wiggles phrase and song, "Wake Up, Jeff!" Jeff was known for his calm personality. Anthony Field said this made him a great person to be with while touring.

Jeff actually is a light sleeper at night, and he often took a nap before shows. He 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 for him to be part of the shows without having to do too much. Anthony Field said this act made Jeff very popular with the audience. It was a simple way for children to join in the show.

Kathleen Warren, a professor and consultant for The Wiggles, believed this act made children feel powerful. Children in the audience would get very excited and were disappointed if they didn't get to help "wake up" Jeff.

Retirement from The Wiggles

"Wiggly concert": Balloon versions of Jeff and Murray

On May 17, 2012, it was announced that Jeff Fatt, along with Greg Page and Murray Cook, would be retiring from touring at the end of that year. Lachlan Gillespie took over as the new purple Wiggle. Jeff and the other original members continued to be involved behind the scenes with the group's creative work. He still performs in special reunion shows.

In July 2020, Jeff appeared in a music video with the other classic Wiggles. In September 2020, he temporarily filled in for Lachlan Gillespie to film a four-part series called "The Wiggly World Of Dance Classes." Jeff has also appeared in recent Wiggles TV shows and returned as the voice of Henry the Octopus.

Jeff Fatt's Personal Life

Since 1990, Jeff Fatt has taken a photo every day to remember the most important thing that happened to him. In 2007, he mentioned he enjoyed surfing.

Family History

Jeff Fatt was featured on a TV show called Who Do You Think You Are? On the show, it was discovered that his grandfather, David Yong Yee, moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1896. He became a successful banana businessman. Later, his family was involved in creating a successful Chinese-Australian retail store in Hong Kong.

His great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Wright, was born in England and arrived in Australia in 1853. She married Jeff's great-great-grandfather, Lee Young, who was a storekeeper from China. They lived in different parts of Australia, and Lee Young even worked as a Chinese interpreter for a court.

Health Update

In July 2011, Jeff Fatt 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 successful, 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

In 2006, Jeff Fatt and the original Wiggles members received an honorary doctorate degree from Australian Catholic University. This was a big moment for them. In 2009, they received another honorary doctorate from Macquarie University.

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

Music Recordings

With The Wiggles

With The Cockroaches

Studio Albums

Singles