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Cab Calloway

Cab Calloway, born Cabell Calloway III, was a famous jazz singer and bandleader.

Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States most popular African American big bands from the start of the 1930s through the 1950s.

In 1931, he recorded his most famous song, Minnie the Moocher. That song and St. James Infirmary Blues appeared in Betty Boop animated shorts, Minnie the Moocher and Snow White (1933), respectively. For his part, Cab took advantage of this and timed his concerts in certain communities with the release of the films in order to make the most of the attention.

In 1980, he gained renewed interest when he appeared as a supporting character in the film, The Blues Brothers where he played Minnie The Moocher to buy time for the Brothers to make it to their own concert.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Cab Calloway Facts

Birth NameCabell Calloway III
OccupationMusician
BirthdayDecember 25, 1907
SignCapricorn
BirthplaceRochester, New York, USA
Date of deathNovember 18, 1994 (age 86)

Selected Filmography

Race Movies: Hi-De-Ho/The Devil's Daughter/Beware/Reet, Petite, and Gone
Jumpin' and Jivin', Vol. 1
Hi De Ho
The Small Jazz Bands
Lullaby of Harlem
Jazz Icons: Cab Calloway
The Black Big Bands
Harlem Roots: Volume 1
The Littlest Angel
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