Cab Calloway - Black Musicians, Timeline and Facts
Cab Calloway's Personal Details
Cab Calloway was a jazz singer and bandleader
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 25, 1907 |
| Died on | November 18, 1994 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Actors, African American Dancers, African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Singers, Jazz Singers |
| Spouses | Zulme |
| Siblings | Blanche Calloway |
| Known as | Cabell Cab Calloway II |
| Childrens | Chris Calloway |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Rochester |
| Religion | Anglicanism |
| Height | 178 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Cabell Calloway II |
| Mother | Martha Eulalia Reed |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Rochester |
| Famous as | Singer |
| Died at Age | 86 |
// Famous Black Musicians
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.' Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Wale
Wale is an American rapper of Nigerian descent. Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.
Cab Calloway's photo
Who is Cab Calloway?
Cab Calloway is remembered as a singer, bandleader, actor, author, and composer. During the heyday of the Harlem Style in the 1920s and 30s, Calloway reigned supreme alongside performers such as Louie Armstrong and Duke Ellington. While growing up in Maryland he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and study law, he instead followed his passion for music. After moving to Chicago, Cab found work as a singer and enjoyed some fame for a few years. An unsuccessful gig in New York City led him to dissolve the existing band and form another. The change paved the way for success in New York and ultimately a long-standing engagement at the Cotton Club, where Calloway evolved his flamboyant style and established himself as a household name. He continued to perform at clubs and popularized jitterbug music, and the “scat” singing style. Several of his songs became hits, with the unforgettable “Minnie the Moocher” among his crowning accomplishments. He performed on the stage and films for many years. During his career, he enjoyed the adoration of a diverse audience which realized that his brand of energy, charisma, and talent comes along only once in a while
// Famous African American Actors
Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore is a model turned actor best known for his role in the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This biography of Shemar Moore provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an Academy Award winning actor known for his work in movies like ‘Street Smart’, ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Spike Lee
Spike Lee is an Emmy Award winning film director and actor known for his films that deal with controversial subjects like racism and politics. This biography of Spike Lee provides detailed information about his life, achievements, works & timeline.
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on December 25, 1907 to Martha Reed and Cabell Calloway, Jr. in Rochester, New York. His family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where his mother worked as a teacher and his father as a lawyer.
In 1922, his parents arranged for him private voice lessons. Although his parents and his voice teacher discouraged him from listening to and singing jazz, he began to frequent speakeasies and jazz clubs in 1924.
In 1925, he played drums and sang with a jazz combo at several clubs in Baltimore. He also performed in several revues and musicals at his high school and local theater.
He excelled at sports in his high school, and played basketball with the Negro Professional Basketball League on the “Baltimore Athenians” in 1926.
His elder sister, Blanche Calloway, lived in Chicago and was enjoying great success as a singer and bandleader. She helped her little brother land his first job as a performer after he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1927. He often credited her for inspiring him to start a career in show business.
Career
He graduated from high school in 1927 and joined his sister in a summer tour of “Plantation Days” in Chicago.
He landed his first nightclub gig in 1928, playing the drums and singing at the “Dreamland Café.” It propelled him to the next steady gig at the “Sunset Café”, where he performed with Louie Armstrong and Carroll Dickerson.
In 1929, when Armstrong and Dickerson left for New York City, he took over as bandleader of the “The Alabamians.” He quit the law course he was taking at Crane College to pursue his music career. He toured with his band and ended the tour at the “Savoy Ballroom” in Harlem. He was so popular with the crowds, that he accepted an offer to become bandleader for “The Missourians."
In 1930, he agreed to be the house band at the “Cotton Club” while Duke Ellington was on tour. His success led him to remain and lead a co-house band. NBC taped a twice weekly radio show at the Cotton Club and it propelled him to further fame. He and Ellington had effectively broken through the unspoken color barrier of broadcasts.
In 1931, he wrote and recorded his most famous song, “Minnie the Moocher.” This recording more than any other would prove to typify his fame, and he later came to be known as “The Hi De Ho Man.”
He recorded songs for a series of Betty Boop animated shorts between1932 to 1933. He continued to perform and record with his band Cab Calloway and his Orchestra.
He appeared in his first full-length movie, “The Singing Kid” in 1936 alongside Al Jolson. The movie served as a small but significant effort at more equal portrayals of African-Americans.
The next seven years he continued to tour and record extensively with various labels.
In 1943, he appeared in the movie, “Stormy Weather”, notable for being the first movie starring an all-black cast.
In 1944, he published a book called “The New Cab Calloway’s Hepsters Dictionary: The Language of Jive,” in which he translated jive language for fans.
In the late 1940s, his poor financial decisions and longstanding problems with gambling caused a break-up of his band.
He returned to stage in 1952 in a production of Porgy and Bess. His well-received role as “Sportin’ Life” launched him back into performances in various productions.
In 1976, he published his autobiography, “Minnie the Moocher and Me.”
In 1980, he performed “Minnie the Moocher” in the “The Blues Brothers” movie. This performance was a re-launch for him and he worked in films and stage for the next decade.
Until his death in 1994, he enjoyed retirement at a community in northern, Delaware.
Major Works
During his long career, he produced a huge discography. Among the more notable works are 1931’s “Minnie the Moocher,” 1934’s “Moon Glow,” 1939’s “The Jumpin’ Jive,” and 1941’s “Blues in the Night.” These hits established the style of scat and jazz in a way that reverberated throughout the era.
His more notable movie credits include “The Big Broadcast” in 1932, “The Singing Kid” in 1936, and “Stormy Weather in 1943. His appearances served to further break down discrimination toward black actors.
His “The New Cab Calloway Hepsters Dictionary: The Language of Jive” legitimized the language that surrounded the jazz culture of the time.
Awards & Achievements
In 1993, he received the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to American music. The same year he was presented with an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Rochester.
In 1998, The Cab Calloway Orchestra was formed to honor his legacy.
Personal Life & Legacy
He fathered a child with Zelma Proctor in 1927. He married Betty Conacher in 1928 but they remained childless.
He met Zulme MacNeal and fathered three children with her in 1945, 1949, and 1952. The children were Chris, Lael, and Cabella respectively.
He suffered a severe stroke and died on November 18, 1994 in Hockessin, Delaware.
He was a larger than life figure who led one of the greatest bands of the swing era. He entertained audiences and broke through barriers in a career that has been immortalized in popular culture.
Trivia
In 1941, he and his band had their very own radio program called Cab Calloway’s Quizzicale. The show had a brief run as he could find a sponsor.
This famous jazz singer once said, “The only difference between a black entertainer and a white entertainer is that my ass has been kicked a lot more and a lot harder because it’s black.”
// Famous Black Singers
SZA
SZA is an American singer-songwriter known for her debut studio album ‘Ctrl.’ Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Rozonda Thomas
Rozonda Thomas is an award winning American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
XXXTentacion
XXXTentacion (Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy) was an American rapper, known for his raw and daring style of music. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and death.
Cab Calloway's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award - 2008 | |
| 0 | Grammy Hall of Fame Award - 1999 - Minnie the Moocher | |
| 0 | Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performances - 1968 ; Hello | |
| 0 | Dolly! | |
Cab Calloway biography timelines
- // 25th Dec 1907He was born on December 25, 1907 to Martha Reed and Cabell Calloway, Jr. in Rochester, New York. His family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where his mother worked as a teacher and his father as a lawyer.
- // 1922 To 1924In 1922, his parents arranged for him private voice lessons. Although his parents and his voice teacher discouraged him from listening to and singing jazz, he began to frequent speakeasies and jazz clubs in 1924.
- // 1925In 1925, he played drums and sang with a jazz combo at several clubs in Baltimore. He also performed in several revues and musicals at his high school and local theater.
- // 1926He excelled at sports in his high school, and played basketball with the Negro Professional Basketball League on the “Baltimore Athenians” in 1926.
- // 1927His elder sister, Blanche Calloway, lived in Chicago and was enjoying great success as a singer and bandleader. She helped her little brother land his first job as a performer after he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1927. He often credited her for inspiring him to start a career in show business.
- // 1927He graduated from high school in 1927 and joined his sister in a summer tour of “Plantation Days” in Chicago.
- // 1927 To 1928He fathered a child with Zelma Proctor in 1927. He married Betty Conacher in 1928 but they remained childless.
- // 1928He landed his first nightclub gig in 1928, playing the drums and singing at the “Dreamland Café.” It propelled him to the next steady gig at the “Sunset Café”, where he performed with Louie Armstrong and Carroll Dickerson.
- // 1929In 1929, when Armstrong and Dickerson left for New York City, he took over as bandleader of the “The Alabamians.” He quit the law course he was taking at Crane College to pursue his music career. He toured with his band and ended the tour at the “Savoy Ballroom” in Harlem. He was so popular with the crowds, that he accepted an offer to become bandleader for “The Missourians."
- // 1930In 1930, he agreed to be the house band at the “Cotton Club” while Duke Ellington was on tour. His success led him to remain and lead a co-house band. NBC taped a twice weekly radio show at the Cotton Club and it propelled him to further fame. He and Ellington had effectively broken through the unspoken color barrier of broadcasts.
- // 1931In 1931, he wrote and recorded his most famous song, “Minnie the Moocher.” This recording more than any other would prove to typify his fame, and he later came to be known as “The Hi De Ho Man.”
- // 1932 To 1933He recorded songs for a series of Betty Boop animated shorts between1932 to 1933. He continued to perform and record with his band Cab Calloway and his Orchestra.
- // 1932 To 1943His more notable movie credits include “The Big Broadcast” in 1932, “The Singing Kid” in 1936, and “Stormy Weather in 1943. His appearances served to further break down discrimination toward black actors.
- // 1936He appeared in his first full-length movie, “The Singing Kid” in 1936 alongside Al Jolson. The movie served as a small but significant effort at more equal portrayals of African-Americans.
- // 1941In 1941, he and his band had their very own radio program called Cab Calloway’s Quizzicale. The show had a brief run as he could find a sponsor.
- // 1943In 1943, he appeared in the movie, “Stormy Weather”, notable for being the first movie starring an all-black cast.
- // 1944In 1944, he published a book called “The New Cab Calloway’s Hepsters Dictionary: The Language of Jive,” in which he translated jive language for fans.
- // 1945 To 1952He met Zulme MacNeal and fathered three children with her in 1945, 1949, and 1952. The children were Chris, Lael, and Cabella respectively.
- // 1952He returned to stage in 1952 in a production of Porgy and Bess. His well-received role as “Sportin’ Life” launched him back into performances in various productions.
- // 1976In 1976, he published his autobiography, “Minnie the Moocher and Me.”
- // 1980In 1980, he performed “Minnie the Moocher” in the “The Blues Brothers” movie. This performance was a re-launch for him and he worked in films and stage for the next decade.
- // 1993In 1993, he received the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to American music. The same year he was presented with an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Rochester.
- // 1994Until his death in 1994, he enjoyed retirement at a community in northern, Delaware.
- // 18th Nov 1994He suffered a severe stroke and died on November 18, 1994 in Hockessin, Delaware.
- // 1998In 1998, The Cab Calloway Orchestra was formed to honor his legacy.
// Famous Singers
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell is an American singer and songwriter. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, personal life, birthday, etc.
Isaak Presley
All about American actor and singer Isaak Presley including his age, birthday, family life, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.
Sophia Montero
Sophia Montero is an American singer and YouTuber. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.
Zach Herron
All about American singer and Instagram personality including his age, birthday, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.
Devin Gordon
All about American Pop singer and internet celebrity Devin Gordon, including his age, birthday, family life, girlfriends, net worth, and some fun facts.
Omarion
Omarion is an American singer, rapper, and actor. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about his life.
Cab Calloway's FAQ
What is Cab Calloway birthday?
Cab Calloway was born at 1907-12-25
When was Cab Calloway died?
Cab Calloway was died at 1994-11-18
Where was Cab Calloway died?
Cab Calloway was died in Hockessin
Which age was Cab Calloway died?
Cab Calloway was died at age 86
Where is Cab Calloway's birth place?
Cab Calloway was born in Rochester
What is Cab Calloway nationalities?
Cab Calloway's nationalities is American
Who is Cab Calloway spouses?
Cab Calloway's spouses is Zulme
Who is Cab Calloway siblings?
Cab Calloway's siblings is Blanche Calloway
Who is Cab Calloway childrens?
Cab Calloway's childrens is Chris Calloway
What was Cab Calloway universities?
Cab Calloway studied at Lincoln University, Frederick Douglass High School
What is Cab Calloway's religion?
Cab Calloway's religion is Anglicanism
How tall is Cab Calloway?
Cab Calloway's height is 178
Who is Cab Calloway's father?
Cab Calloway's father is Cabell Calloway II
Who is Cab Calloway's mother?
Cab Calloway's mother is Martha Eulalia Reed
What is Cab Calloway's sun sign?
Cab Calloway is Capricorn
How famous is Cab Calloway?
Cab Calloway is famouse as Singer