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Cab Calloway

Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist of the swing era. His niche of mixing jazz and vaudeville won him acclaim during a career that spanned over 65 years.

Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the most popular dance bands in the United States from the early 1930s to the late 1940s. His band included trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Jonah Jones, and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon "Chu" Berry, guitarist Danny Barker, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Cozy Cole.

Calloway had several hit records in the 1930s and 1940s, becoming known as the "Hi-de-ho" man of jazz for his most famous song, "Minnie the Moocher", originally recorded in 1931. He reached the Billboard charts in five consecutive decades (1930s–1970s). Calloway also made several stage, film, and television appearances until his death in 1994 at the age of 86. He had roles in Stormy Weather (1943), Porgy and Bess (1953), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), and Hello Dolly! (1967). His career saw renewed interest when he appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.

Calloway was the first African-American musician to sell a million records from a single and to have a nationally syndicated radio show. In 1993, Calloway received the National Medal of Arts from the United States Congress. He posthumously received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His song "Minnie the Moocher" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, and added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2019. Three years later in 2022, the National Film Registry selected his home films for preservation as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films". He is also inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame and the International Jazz Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 25, 1907 (Rochester), Died November 18, 1994 (Hockessin)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1961

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, director, songwriter, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CRC-53039 12-in. 4/20/1931 I'll make fun of you Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Hellmut H. Hellmut Radio broadcast : Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo, and announcements director  
Victor CRC-53040 12-in. 4/21/1931 Something to remember you by [conclusion] Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Hellmut H. Hellmut Radio broadcast : Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos, and announcements vocalist, director  
Victor CRC-53041 12-in. 4/21/1931 The mystery song Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Hellmut H. Hellmut Radio broadcast : Tap dancing with piano, jazz/dance band with male vocal solo, and announcements vocalist, director  
Victor CRC-53042 12-in. 4/21/1931 St. Louis blues [conclusion] Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Hellmut H. Hellmut Radio broadcast : Jazz/dance band with male vocal solo, male vocal trio with piano, and announcements vocalist, director  
Victor CRC-53043 12-in. 4/21/1931 Farewell blues Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Hellmut H. Hellmut Radio broadcast : Jazz/dance band, and announcements director  
Victor ABRC-64084 10-in. 4/2/1931 Minnie the Moocher Five Rhythm Kings Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo songwriter  
Victor ABRC-64087 10-in. 4/2/1931 Minnie the moocher Five Rhythm Kings Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-69980 10-in. 6/26/1931 Minnie the Moocher Chick Bullock ; Mills Blue Rhythm Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet and vocal chorus songwriter  
Victor BRC-72560 10-in. 5/10/1932 The scat song Billy Banks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-74732 10-in. 12/27/1932 The scat song The Sizzlers Male vocal trio, with piano composer  
Victor BS-77684 10-in. 9/18/1933 Evenin' Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-77685 10-in. 9/18/1933 I learned about love from her Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BS-77697 10-in. 9/21/1933 Little town gal Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BS-77698 10-in. 9/21/1933 Harlem hospitality Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BS-78503 10-in. 11/2/1933 The lady with the fan Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus director, vocalist, songwriter  
Victor BS-78504 10-in. 11/2/1933 Harlem camp meeting Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus director, vocalist  
Victor BS-78505 10-in. 11/2/1933 Zaz zuh zaz Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal chorus songwriter, director, vocalist  
Victor BS-78506 10-in. 11/2/1933 Father's got his glasses on Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BVE-78866 10-in. 12/18/1933 Minnie the Moocher Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus director, vocalist, songwriter  
Victor BVE-78867 10-in. 12/18/1933 The scat song Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus director, vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-78868 10-in. 12/18/1933 Kicking the gong around Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus director, vocalist  
Victor BVE-78869 10-in. 12/18/1933 There's a cabin in the cotton Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Bennie Payne Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, director  
Victor BS-81088 10-in. 1/22/1934 'Long about midnight Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-81089 10-in. 1/22/1934 Moon glow Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-81090 10-in. 1/22/1934 Jitter bug Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble director, songwriter, vocalist  
Victor BS-81093 10-in. 1/23/1934 Hotcha razz-ma-tazz Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-81094 10-in. 1/23/1934 Margie Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BS-81095 10-in. 1/23/1934 Emaline Cab Calloway ; Cotton Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BS-028136 10-in. 10/20/1938 Big mouth Minnie Peg LaCentra ; Jerry Sears Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BS-037631 10-in. 6/13/1939 The jumpin' jive (Jim, jam, jump) Lionel Hampton Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-037738 10-in. 6/21/1939 The jumpin' jive (Jim jam jump) Butch Stone ; Van Alexander Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-048482 10-in. 3/30/1940 Boog-it Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Marion Hutton Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-051524 10-in. 6/19/1940 Topsy-turvy Earl Hines Orchestra ; Walter Fuller Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor D9AB-1185 10-in. 8/18/1949 Ol' Joe Louis (He's still the king of them all) Cab Drivers ; Cab Calloway Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, leader  
Victor D9AB-1186 10-in. 8/18/1949 Your voice Cab Drivers ; Cab Calloway Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, leader  
Victor D9AB-2285 10-in. 9/29/1949 Rooming house boogie Cab Jivers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Victor D9AB-2286 10-in. 9/29/1949 I beeped when I shoulda bopped Cab Jivers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia W152145 10-in. 3/17/1932 Minnie the Moocher Log Cabin Four Male vocal quartet songwriter  
Columbia C3519 10-in. 1/16/1941 Willow weep for me Cab Calloway Orchestra ; Cab Calloway ; Hilton Jefferson Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 29867 10-in. 3/5/1941 Jonah joins the Cab Cab Calloway Orchestra ; Cab Calloway ; Cab Calloway ; Jonah Jones Jazz/dance bandJazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, vocalist  
Brunswick E33353 10-in. 7/24/1930 Gotta darn good reason now (For bein’ good) Jungle Band [Cab Calloway Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E33354 10-in. 7/24/1930 I’ll be a friend with pleasure Jungle Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E33355 10-in. 7/24/1930 St. Louis blues Jungle Band [Cab Calloway Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Brunswick E35878 10-in. 12/23/1930 Is that religion? Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E35879 10-in. 12/23/1930 Is that religion? Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E35880 10-in. 12/23/1930 Some of these days Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E35881 10-in. 12/23/1930 Nobody’s sweetheart Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Brunswick E35882 10-in. 12/23/1930 St. James’ Infirmary Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E35985 10-in. 3/30/1931 Straddle the fence Chocolate Dandies [Mills Blue Rhythm Band] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36212 10-in. 3/3/1931 Minnie the moocher Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Brunswick E36213 10-in. 3/3/1931 Doin’ the rumba Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E36665 10-in. 4/28/1931 Minnie the Moocher Earl Jackson and his Musical Champions [Mills Blue Rhythm Band] Jazz/dance band, with vocal (scat) songwriter  
Brunswick E36803 10-in. 6/11/1931 Black rhythm Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E36804 10-in. 6/11/1931 Six or seven times Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37220 10-in. 9/23/1931 Bugle call rag Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37221 10-in. 9/23/1931 You rascal, you Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37265 10-in. 10/21/1931 Ain’t got no gal in this town Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37266 10-in. 10/21/1931 Between the devil and the deep blue sea Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37267 10-in. 10/21/1931 Trickeration Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Brunswick E37268 10-in. 10/21/1931 Kickin’ the gong around Cab Calloway Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Decca 109760 10/20/1960 Lost weekend Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 109761 10/20/1960 Dancing man Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 109762 10/20/1960 I'll follow you Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 109763 10/20/1960 Just wait Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111171 10/4/1961 Basin Street blues Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111172 10/4/1961 The birth of the blues Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111173 10/4/1961 Blues in the night Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111174 10/4/1961 I get the blues when it rains Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111175 10/6/1961 Blue prelude Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111176 10/6/1961 Don't worry 'bout me Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111177 10/6/1961 I gotta right to sing the blues Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111178 10/6/1961 Cry me a river Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111179 10/10/1961 St. Louis blues Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111180 10/10/1961 One for my baby (and one more for the road) Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111181 10/10/1961 Learnin' the blues Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 111182 10/10/1961 Blues my naughty sweetie gives to me Cab Calloway Orchestra vocalist  
Signature SRC 2070 10-in. 5/5/1949 Baby, it's cold outside Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers vocalist  
Signature SRC 2071 10-in. 5/5/1949 The hucklebuck Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers vocalist  
Signature SRC 2072 10-in. 5/5/1949 I've got the world on a string Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers vocalist  
Signature SRC 2073 10-in. 5/5/1949 Why can't you behave Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Calloway, Cab," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103488.

Calloway, Cab. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103488.

"Calloway, Cab." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103488

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