Jeff Fatt

For his character in The Wiggles, see Jeff Wiggle.
Jeffrey Wayne "Jeff" Fatt is an Australian keyboardist who is best known as the original Purple Wiggle in The Wiggles and a member of the the 1980s and 1990s rock band The Cockroaches. He is also best known for having voiced Henry the Octopus. As a kid he and all of his siblings were encouraged by his mother to learn how to play the piano. He is the oldest Wiggle out of all of The Wiggles. He is also shortest Wiggle of the original lineup. He is the keyboardist in The Wiggles.
== Other Information ==
Jeff is an Australian musician. He is best known as a member of the Wiggles, Jeff Fatt became one of the "most popular" Asian performers in the world. The son of Chinese parents who owned a large retail store in Casino, Jeff had aspirations to become an architect and earned a Bachelor of Arts in industrial design. He opened a public address equipment business with his brother in Sydney when he began playing keyboard for the rockabilly band The Roadmasters and was recruited by Anthony and Paul Field to join The Cockroaches. After The Cockroaches disbanded in the early '90s, Anthony asked Jeff, who was renovating his house at the time, to help them record The Wiggles' first album in 1991. Jeff 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.'" Jeff's response to Anthony's request was, "How long will it take?".
As a Wiggle, Jeff wore a purple skivvy. He was sleeping at odd times, which led to a Wiggles' catchphrase and the title of one of their songs, "Wake Up, Jeff!" Jeff is the oldest Wiggle and is well-known for his "laid-back personality". As Sam, when referring to the development of The Wiggles' acts, stated, "Jeff really does fall asleep". Jeff confirmed this by stating that "The irony is I'm a very light sleeper in the night-time. I will invariably have a snooze before the show". Jeff 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 act, "because it was a way of getting me involved in the shows without actually having to do anything". Jeff reports that it took about a year to teach himself childhood development in the early wiggly days. Or as he quoted, "learn the language of preschool", including addressing children using the inclusive "everybody", instead of "boys and girls", and that The Wiggles' first performances were traumatic for him because he was not used to being around children. Since 1990, Jeff has taken a photo a day documenting the most eventful thing that has happened to him. He is "a keen surfer", leading to the production of album and accompanying song Surfer Jeff.
Jeff was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2010 for service to the arts, particularly children's entertainment, and to the community as a benefactor and supporter of a range of charities. In 2011, after numerous heart issues, Jeff underwent a triple bypass and received a pacemaker, and therefore could not perform in the band's US tour that year.
Jeff left the group in 2012. Since then he began making cameos and playing instruments with Murray Cook and Greg Page and was replaced by Lachlan Gillespie.
He has briefly returned to the role of the Purple Wiggle in 2020, following the absence of his successor, Lachlan Gillespie (the latter having temporarily left on paternity leave).
He also resurfaced in the Big W video, "Biggest Wiggly Birthday" in 2021.
He also made a cameo in the episode Food from the YouTube Exclusive series Wiggle and Learn in 2024.
== Wiggles Media Credits ==
=== Albums ===
For a full list of songs written and arranged by Fatt, see Jeff Fatt Songs
* The Wiggles - Accordion, Emax, Sequencing, Mischief's Voice, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
* Here Comes a Song - Accordion, Piano, Organ, Xylophone, Vocals, Hand Claps, Jerome's Voice, Recording and Mixing Engineer, Producer, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
* The Adventures Of Captain Feathersword, The Friendly Pirate - Vocals, Songwriter
* Yummy Yummy - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Organ, Accordion, Piano, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Fais Do Do" and "Where Is Thumbkin"
* Big Red Car - Piano, Lowrey Colour Glow Organ, Vocals on "I'm a Cow", Backing Vocals, Vibraslap, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
* Wake Up Jeff! - Backing Vocals, Accordion, Piano, Organ, Snoring, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
* Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas - Backing Vocals, Organs, Piano, Accordion, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Ding Dong Merrily on High", "Jingle Bells", "Away in a Manger", "Silent Night" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
* The Wiggles Movie Soundtrack - Keyboards, Songwriter
* Toot Toot! - Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "John Bradlelum", "Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes" and "Silver Bells That Ring In The Night"
* It's a Wiggly Wiggly World! - Backing Vocals, Co-Writer of "In The Wiggles' World", "Here Come The Wiggles", "In The Big Red Car We Like To Ride", "Hey, Hey, Hey We're All Pirate Dancing" and "Let's Go (We're Riding In The Big Red Car)", Co-Arranger of "Taba Naba" and "Haru Ga Kita"
* Wiggle Time!
* Yule Be Wiggling - Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Curoo Curoo", "Angels We Have Heard On High" and "The First Noel"
* Hoop-Dee-Doo it's a Wiggly Party - Backing Vocals, Bass, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "La Cucaracha", "Marie's Wedding" and "Zoological Gardens"
* Wiggly Safari - Songwriter
* Wiggle Bay - Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Dance A Cachuca"
* Playhouse Disney 2 - Co-Writer of both the Character and Generic versions of "Playhouse Disney Theme"
* Go To Sleep Jeff! - Vocals, Co-Arranger of "Maranoa Lullaby"
* Whoo Hoo! Wiggly Gremlins! - Keyboards, Songwriter
* Top of the Tots - Keyboards, Songwriter
* Cold Spaghetti Western - Keyboards, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Cielito Lindo" and "El Pato"
* Santa's Rockin'! - Keyboards, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Noche De Paz (Silent Night)", "Christmas Barcarolle (Let The World Rejoice)", "Away in a Manger" and "O Come All Ye Faithful"
* LIVE Hot Potatoes! - Backing Vocals, Keyboards
* Sailing Around the World - Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Sydney Barcarolle"
* Here Comes the Big Red Car - Keyboards, Co-Writer of "Sorry Again"
* It's Time to Wake Up Jeff!
* Splish Splash Big Red Boat - Co-Writer of "Big Red Boat"
* Racing to the Rainbow - Vocals, Keyboard, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Polly Put The Kettle On", "The Wheels on the Bus", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "Five Little Ducks"
* Dorothy the Dinosaur - Co-Writer of "I'm Dorothy the Dinosaur!", "Teddy Bear Lullaby", "Seashell Barcarolle" and "My Name is Dorothy (Come Dance With Me)"
* Getting Strong! - Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "A Frog Went A Walking"
* Pop Go The Wiggles! - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Song Arrangements
* You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Vocals, Piano, Co-Writer of "I Drive The Big Red Car" and "The Story Of Thomas The Turkey", Song Arrangements
* Sing a Song of Wiggles - Vocals, Piano, Song Arrangements
* The Wiggles Go Bananas! - Vocals, Piano, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
* Hot Poppin' Popcorn - Vocals, Wags the Dog Vocals, Piano, Organ, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Waltzing Matilda"
* Let's Eat! - Vocals, Accordion, Piano, Organ, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel"
* Dorothy the Dinosaur's Rockin' Christmas - Henry the Octopus Vocals, Backing Vocals (archived recordings), Keyboard
* Ukulele Baby! - Vocals, Musicians, Co-Writer of "How Many Fingers Do I See?", "Cluck, Cluck City", "How Many You Want?", "Hawaiian Boogie", "Round and Round, Round and Round" and "Doo, Doo-Doo, Doo!", Co-Arranger of "Spagnola", "Bambino" and "La Paloma"
* The Wiggles' Big Birthday! - Vocals, Musicians
* It's Always Christmas With You! - Vocals, Wags the Dog Vocals, Henry the Octopus Vocals, Musicians, Co-Writer of "It's a Long Way From the North Pole", Co-Arranger of "The Cherry Tree Carol", "O Holy Night", "Ding Dong Merrily on High", "We Three Kings" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
* Surfer Jeff - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-Writer of "Surfer Jeff", "Ooey, Ooey, Ooey Allergies!", "Look Before You Go", "It's Peanut Butter!", "Dorothy the Dinosaur's Beach Party" and "Would You Like To Go To Scotland?", Co-Arranger of "Mango Walk", "Waltzing Matilda", "An Irish Dinosaur Tale" and "London Barcarolle"
* Celebration! - Vocals, Musician, Co-Arranger of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Occi Tocci Onga"
* Taking Off! - Wags the Dog Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Xylophone, Co-Writer of "Do the Propeller!", "Emma (with the Bow in Her Hair)", "I've Got My Glasses On!", "Who Got Da Bones?" and "Meteorology (the Study of the Atmosphere)", Co-Arranger of "Alouette/Mimi's Dance"
* Furry Tales - Henry the Octopus & Wags the Dog Vocals, Musicians, Co-Writer of "Ready, Steady, Wiggle!" and "The Corroboree Frog"
* Pumpkin Face - Henry the Octopus Vocals, Musicians, Co-Writer of "Little Vampires" and "Zombie Feet"
* Go Santa Go! - Musician, Co-Writer of "Decorate The Tree With Dorothy", Co-Arranger of "Ding Dong Merrily on High" and "Oh Happy Day"
* Apples & Bananas - Henry the Octopus Vocals, Musicians, Song Arrangements
* Wiggle House - Keyboard on "Hey, Wags!", "Shock the World" and "There Was A Princess Long Ago", Piano on "There Was A Princess Long Ago"
* Rock & Roll Preschool - Co-Writer of "You Got The Drop"
* Dance Dance! - Organ on "Do the Propeller!" and "Simon Says" (archived recording), Piano on "Simon Says" (archived recording)
* Och Aye the G'Nu! - Piano on "I'm a G'Nu", "When You're Living in the Zoo" and "It's a Parrot Party", Organ on "I'm a G'Nu", Keyboard on "I Got New Shoes", "Shake Your Shaggy, Shaggy Mane" and "It's a Parrot Party", Co-Writer of "It's a Parrot Party"
* Duets - Keyboard on "Do the Propeller!" (archived recording), Voice of Henry the Octopus & Wags the Dog
* The Emma! & Lachy! Show - Co-Writer of "Welcome to the Emma & Lachy Show"
* Fun and Games - Musician
* Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes & Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car! - Musician
* Lullabies with Love - Co-Writer of "Busy, Busy, So Much To Do"
* Halloween Party - Musician
* Fruit Salad TV Christmas - Co-Arranger of "Away in a Manger"
* ReWiggled - Keyboards, Piano
* Super Wiggles - Musician, Songwriter, Co-Arranger of "The Scrubbing Song"
=== Character Roles ===
* Henry the Octopus (Suit: 1994-1995, 2013; Voice: 1994-present)
* Wags the Dog (Suit: 1994; Voice: 1994-present)
== Trivia ==
* He and Greg Page are the only band members to reprise their original roles in regular Wiggles media since their departure (not counting reunion concerts).
* He made an appearance on "Who Do You Think You Are?", where he found out more about his family history.
* He was brought in at the very end of the recording sessions for the first album to sequence everything.
* He is the only original Wiggle who isn't married, engaged or in any romantic relationship.
* Jeff Fatt shares a birthday with the late actor and comedian, Robin Williams and the actor and comedian, Jon Lovitz.
* He is the only original Wiggle without experience in early childhood education, which was part of the reason for his whole sleeping gag as he didn't understand how to speak to kids, so The Wiggles decided to give him this sleeping gag so that he had a way to get involved on stage with the audience without really having to say anything.
* He is the oldest person to have ever been a Wiggle.