CAB CALLOWAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA

Biography

Cabell 'Cab' Calloway III was born on December 25, 1907, in Rochester, New York, and emerged as one of the most dynamic and influential figures of the jazz age. After his family relocated to Baltimore when he was 11 years old, Calloway pursued law studies in Chicago following his high school graduation in 1927. However, the allure of music proved irresistible, and he began performing at Chicago's Sunset Café, where he met Louis Armstrong, who became his mentor in the art of scat singing—a technique that would become Calloway's signature. In 1928, Calloway formed a band called 'The Missourians' and relocated to New York City the following year, where his career would reach unprecedented heights.

Calloway's rise to stardom accelerated in 1930 when he was hired to replace Duke Ellington at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem. His extraordinary stage presence, characterized by flamboyant zoot suits, dynamic dance moves, and exuberant performance style, distinguished him from other bandleaders of his era who typically conducted with a simple baton. By age 23, Calloway had become the Cotton Club's star attraction, leading what became known as the Cab Calloway Orchestra for more than a decade. The orchestra recorded prolifically across multiple labels including Brunswick, Victor, Vocalion, and OKeh Records from 1930 through the 1940s. His 1931 recording of 'Minnie the Moocher' became his most famous composition, showcasing his masterful scat singing and selling over a million copies.

Calloway's legacy extended far beyond music into entertainment and cultural pioneering. He became the first African American to host a nationally syndicated radio show and the first African American to publish a dictionary, which was printed in six editions. His orchestra served as a launching pad for numerous jazz legends, and his flamboyant personality led to acting roles in Broadway productions and films including 'The Blues Brothers' and 'The Cincinnati Kid.' The Cab Calloway Orchestra remained one of the most important jazz bands in America throughout the swing era, and his influence on jazz performance and showmanship continues to resonate. Calloway passed away on November 18, 1994, in Hockessin, Delaware, leaving behind an indelible mark on American music and culture.

Fun Facts

• Cab Calloway was the first African American to host a nationally syndicated radio show, breaking significant racial barriers in broadcasting
• Calloway published the first dictionary created by an African American, which was printed in six different editions, demonstrating his cultural impact beyond music
• In 1941, Dizzy Gillespie stabbed Calloway in the leg with a small knife during an onstage altercation after Calloway wrongly accused Gillespie of throwing a spitball at him
• The modern Cab Calloway Orchestra, led by Calloway's grandson C. Calloway Brooks, won the prestigious 'Montreal International Jazz Festival Battle of the Big Bands' two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017—the only jazz orchestra in history to achieve this feat

Members

• Morris White - banjo, guitar, original (from 1930 until 1938)
• Andrew Brown - original, reeds (from 1930)
• R.Q. Dickerson - original, trumpet (from 1930)
• Leroy Maxey - drums (drum set), original (from 1930)
• Earres Prince - original, piano (from 1930)
• Walter "Foots" Thomas - original, reeds, woodwind (from 1930)
• DePriest Wheeler - original, trombone (from 1930)
• William Thornton Blue - original, reeds (from 1930)
• Lammar Wright - original, trumpet (from 1930)
• Arville Harris - reeds (from 1931 until 1936)
• Benny Payne - piano (from 1931 until 1943)
• Edwin Swayze - trumpet (from 1932 until 1935-01-31)
• Doc Cheatham - trumpet (from 1932 until 1939)
• Harry White - trombone (from 1932)
• Eddie Barefield - reeds (from 1933)
• Milt Hinton - double bass (from 1936)
• Leon “Chu” Berry - saxophone (from 1937 until 1941)
• Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet (from 1939 until 1941)
• Danny Barker - guitar (from 1939 until 1946)
• Quentin Jackson - trombone (from 1940 until 1948)
• Cab Calloway - eponymous, original
• Al Morgan - double bass
• Jimmy Smith - double bass, original, tuba

Original Members

• Andrew Brown - original, reeds
• R.Q. Dickerson - original, trumpet
• Leroy Maxey - drums (drum set), original
• Earres Prince - original, piano
• Walter "Foots" Thomas - original, reeds, woodwind
• DePriest Wheeler - original, trombone
• William Thornton Blue - original, reeds
• Lammar Wright - original, trumpet
• Harry White - trombone
• Eddie Barefield - reeds
• Milt Hinton - double bass

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Louis Armstrong - Armstrong served as Calloway's mentor in scat singing at the Sunset Café in Chicago, teaching him the vocal technique that became his signature style (Scat singing technique development) [1927-1928]

Key Collaborators

• Dizzy Gillespie - Gillespie was a member of the Cab Calloway Orchestra during the Harlem Renaissance period, gaining valuable experience under Calloway's leadership before becoming a bebop pioneer (Cab Calloway Orchestra recordings) [1931-1940]
• Chu Berry - Tenor saxophonist who performed with the Cab Calloway Orchestra (Orchestra recordings) [1930s-1940s]
• Doc Cheatham - Trumpet player who performed with the Cab Calloway Orchestra (Orchestra recordings) [1930s-1940s]
• Milt Hinton - Bass player who performed in the rhythm section of the Cab Calloway Orchestra (Orchestra recordings) [1930s-1940s]
• Cozy Cole - Drummer who performed with the Cab Calloway Orchestra during the mid-1940s (Orchestra recordings) [mid-1940s]
• Jonah Jones - Jazz musician who performed with the Cab Calloway Orchestra (Orchestra recordings) [1930s-1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Dizzy Gillespie - Gillespie gained foundational experience and training under Calloway's leadership, which influenced his development as a jazz musician before he pioneered bebop (Early career development) [1931-1940]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Reefer Man
2. Happy Feet
3. Minnie the Moocher (Black Rhythm)
4. Everybody Eats When They Come to My House (Are You Hep To The Jive?)
5. Are You Hep to the Jive? (Yas, Yas) (Are You Hep To The Jive?)
6. St James Infirmary (Black Rhythm)
7. Happy Feet (Cab Calloway and His Orchestra 1930-1931)
8. Everybody Eats When They Come to My House (Black Rhythm)
9. Jumpin Jive (Black Rhythm)
10. Minnie The Moocher - (Alternate Take) (Black Rhythm)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #big-band, #cab-calloway, #jazz