H istory

Cab Calloway

Jazz Bandleader: Mr.  Cab Calloway, was born Cabell Calloway III, in Rochester New York in 1907 -  raised in Baltimore MD. He was married to Nuffie. He studied law at Crane College in Chicago. Calloway was offered a contract to play basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters in 1928. Instead, he became one of the great bandleaders known for his performances at the Cotton Club in Harlem, and for his Vaudevillian life-style. He was a Jazz musician, singer, author, choreographer and songwriter!  In 1931, the Calloway Band took over for Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club and within that first year recorded "Minnie the Moocher" in 1931, along with numerous hits such as "Kicking The Gang Around"; "Reefer Man"; "The Scat Song"; "Mama I Want To Make Rhythm"; "A Chicken Ain't Nothing But A Bird"; and the "Hi-De-Ho-Man", between 1931 and 1947. Cab appeared in movies and was considered as one to break down barriers for people of color by taking his all black band on the road integrating music halls, theaters, and night clubs long before the civil rights movement. His career declined when the band broke up in 1948 - but had a "come-back" moment in 1952 with George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess".   Cab Calloway is remembered for hiring an unknown musician Dizzy Gillespie; he promoted the careers of Ms. Pearl Bailey and Ms. Lena Horne; and made household names of musicians such as Trumpeter "Doc" Cheatham, Saxophonist Chu Berry, Ben Webster, Illinois Jacquet, and Bassist Milt Hinton.  Cab Calloway appears in the Dan Aykroyd-John Belushi Film - "The Blues Brothers", and he has inspired generations of musicians, singers, actors and audiences for over sixty (60) years. Cab died at the age of 86 in Delaware after suffering a massive Stroke. His legacy lives on forever!  (Credits:  Mr. Steve Dollar/Associated Press)