Blanche Calloway

Blanche Calloway

Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (February 9, 1902 – December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer, composer, and bandleader. She was the older sister of Cab Calloway and was a successful singer before her brother. With a music career that spanned over fifty years, Calloway was the first woman to lead an all-male orchestra and performed alongside musicians such as Cozy Cole, Chick Webb, and her brother. Her performing style was described as flamboyant and a major influence on her brother's performance style.

Birth and Death Data: Born Baltimore (city in Maryland, United States) , Died December 16, 1978 (Baltimore (city in Maryland, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1935

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

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 35 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-64068	10-in.	3/2/1931	Casey Jones	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys ; William Massey	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	leader
Victor	BVE-64069	10-in.	3/2/1931	There's rhythm in the river	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	leader, vocalist
Victor	BVE-64070	10-in.	3/2/1931	I need lovin'	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-68234	10-in.	6/11/1931	It looks like Susie	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-68235	10-in.	6/11/1931	Without that gal!	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	ABRC-68236	10-in.	6/11/1931	When I can't be with you	Fred Armstrong and his Syncopators	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-68938	10-in.	3/27/1931	Just a crazy song (Hi, hi, hi)	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys ; Blanche Calloway	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal chorus	leader, vocalist
Victor	BRC-68939	10-in.	3/27/1931	Sugar blues	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys ; William Massey ; Clarence E. Smith	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and trumpet solo	leader
Victor	ABRC-68940	10-in.	3/27/1931	Sugar blues	Fred Armstrong and his Syncopators ; William Massey	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and trumpet solo	leader
Victor	BRC-68941	10-in.	3/27/1931	I'm getting myself ready for you	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys ; Blanche Calloway	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	leader, vocalist
Victor	BRC-68942	10-in.	3/27/1931	Loveless love	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys ; Blanche Calloway	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69025	10-in.	5/8/1931	Misery	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69026	10-in.	5/8/1931	It's right here for you	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69027	10-in.	5/8/1931	Make me know it	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69786	10-in.	11/18/1931	I got what it takes (But it breaks my heart to give it away)	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69787	10-in.	11/18/1931	Growling Dan	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, lyricist, leader
Victor	BRC-69788	10-in.	11/18/1931	Concentratin' (On you)	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69789	10-in.	11/18/1931	Last dollar	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Victor	BRC-69790	10-in.	11/18/1931	Blue memories	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, songwriter, leader
Columbia	[W]151456	10-in.	3/23/1931	Minnie the Moocher	King Carter and his Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Columbia	CP1097	10-in.	8/27/1934	Growling Dan	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Columbia	CP1098	10-in.	8/27/1934	Catch on	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Columbia	CP1099	10-in.	8/27/1934	I need lovin'	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
Columbia	CP1100	10-in.	8/27/1934	What's a poor girl gonna do?	Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, leader
OKeh	9458	10-in.	11/9/1925	Lazy woman's blues	Blanche Calloway	Female vocal solo, with cornet and piano	vocalist

(Results 1-25 of 35 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Calloway, Blanche," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109163.

Calloway, Blanche. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109163.

"Calloway, Blanche." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/291454 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/291454

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.