Born Cabell Calloway III, on December 15, 1907, in Rochester, NY, Cab Calloway was a multitalented individual. Not only was he a big band leader during the swing era of jazz, but he was also an actor, author, drummer, and singer. With humble beginnings in a large family, Calloway was exposed to music at an early age. His parents expected him to follow his father’s footsteps into the world of law, but after some time at Chicago’s Crane College, Calloway realized his true passions were in the world of showbusiness. His sister gave him acting lessons and helped him get a job as a singer.
At a very young age, Calloway became a drummer for the Sunset Cafe band in Chicago, and soon after organized his own orchestra, Cab Calloway and the Alabamians, in which he was lead vocals. Calloway and his orchestra received much support from its fan base in Chicago. Calloway received so much praise that in 1929, he went on to replace Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club. Eventually in 1931, Calloway’s band, The Cab Calloway Band, replaced Ellington’s band to become the Cotton Club’s house act for eight years. According to Notable Biographies it was at the Cotton Club that he developed his trademark “crisp, jazzy song-and-dance style”.
Calloway helped popularize the jitterbug through his unique style. Additionally, he was also a huge proponent of scat singing and helped popularize the singing style along with Louis Armstrong and others. Some of his most popular songs were Hi De Ho, The Jumpin’ Jive, The Lady with the Fan, Reefer Man, It Ain’t Necessarily So, and many other too. Most of his songs had a very upbeat and lively mood to them as they were meant to make people get up and dance. His …show more content…
N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. .
"Cab Calloway Biography." Notable Biographies. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. .
Frentner, Shaun. “Calloway, Cab 1907-1994.” Encyclopedia.com. Thomson Gale, 1997. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
At a very young age, Calloway became a drummer for the Sunset Cafe band in Chicago, and soon after organized his own orchestra, Cab Calloway and the Alabamians, in which he was lead vocals. Calloway and his orchestra received much support from its fan base in Chicago. Calloway received so much praise that in 1929, he went on to replace Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club. Eventually in 1931, Calloway’s band, The Cab Calloway Band, replaced Ellington’s band to become the Cotton Club’s house act for eight years. According to Notable Biographies it was at the Cotton Club that he developed his trademark “crisp, jazzy song-and-dance style”.
Calloway helped popularize the jitterbug through his unique style. Additionally, he was also a huge proponent of scat singing and helped popularize the singing style along with Louis Armstrong and others. Some of his most popular songs were Hi De Ho, The Jumpin’ Jive, The Lady with the Fan, Reefer Man, It Ain’t Necessarily So, and many other too. Most of his songs had a very upbeat and lively mood to them as they were meant to make people get up and dance. His …show more content…
N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. .
"Cab Calloway Biography." Notable Biographies. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. .
Frentner, Shaun. “Calloway, Cab 1907-1994.” Encyclopedia.com. Thomson Gale, 1997. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.