Cab Calloway

Born less than 50 years after the end of the Civil War, it was a time when the black population of the United States was still not permitted to hold certain jobs or enter many places. Among these places was the famous Cotton Club in Harlem where only white people were allowed to enter the front door and see the show. The performers were all black and had to enter through the back door of the club. One of these performers was Cab Calloway. What today is called a triple threat, Calloway was known as a song and dance man.

The second of six children he was born Cabell Calloway III on December 25, 1907 in Rochester, New York. When he was six years old Cab's family moved to Baltimore where he held numerous jobs including walking horses at the track after a race. Cab developed a love for horses that lasted a lifetime. After high school Cab followed the wishes of his parents and entered law school. But while in law school the entertainment bug bit Cab and he discovered that he could do the one thing he loved - to make people happy - and get paid for doing it.

With the help of his older sister Blanche, Cab got his first professional gig. He then joined a group called the Alabamians and later the Missourians before forming his own big band.

Calloway began recording in 1930 and with his first solo release "Minnie the Moocher" Cab became a big hit and one of the most popular black entertainers in America alongside Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ethal Waters, and Bill Robinson. Cab Calloway had the first jazz album to sell one million copies. His fans never grew tired of hearing Minnie.

While with his big band Calloway had many sidemen among them was horn player Dizzie Gilespie. Besides playing with the big band Calloway appeared in movies and on Broadway.

Among the movies to his credit are "Stormy Weather" and "The Blues Brothers" where Calloway outlived both of his fellow featured actors John Candy and John Belushi. The character Oogie Boogie in "The Nightmare Before Christmas" by Tim Burton was inspired by Calloway.

When the big band era gave way to other musical styles Calloway disbanded the group and turned his had to Broadway. George Gershiwn had created the character Sportin' Life after Cab Calloway and from 1952 to 1954 Calloway played the character created after him. Among his fellow cast members were Leontyne Price and William Warfield. The trio were a part of the cast that toured Europe and even Russia in the early days of the Cold War. The performances were greatly enjoyed by the audiences.

Calloway also starred opposite Pearl Bailey and his daughter Chris in "Hello Dolly".

Off stage Calloway was a quiet shy man who loved horses and the racetrack. He once boasted that he was the first black man to be allowed to sit in the grandstands at Hialeah. And he was the first entertainer to perform at the Preakness.

Calloway was married twice, his second wife Zulme "Nuffie" MacNeal for 45 years. Calloway has five girls and seven grandchildren.

In June of 1994 while watching the basketball playoffs between the New York Nicks and the Houston Rockets Calloway had a massive stroke. He died later that year on November 18 in a retirement community in Deleware with his family by his side.

Known for his trademark white tuxedo Cab Calloway was known to many as the Hi-De-Ho man and for 65 of his 86 years he entertained audiences for the pure joy of making people happy.