My research tells me that Cab's parents recognized early on that he had a gift for music and put him in formal singing lessons. Cab was more interested in the jazz scene so he dropped out of law school and started to perform and learn from the masters, including his older sister who was a bandleader before him, and learning how to scat from non other than Louis Armstrong! So Cab and his Orchestra became super popular and lead to him CO-HEADLINING with DUKE ELLINGTON. Can you imagine? Anyway, Cab continued in music and showbiz for the rest of his life until his death in 1994 at age 86.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't add this amusing Cab Calloway anecdote:
Cab fired Dizzy Gillespie from his band because he thought Dizzy was pelting him with spit balls on stage (he wasn't). Dizzy ended up stabbing Cab in the leg with a small knife.
REVIEW!
Holly:
Minnie the Moocher (Cab Calloway & His Orchestra): 5/5 I was so happy to see this coming up on the list. Cab Calloway was known for his scat singing and it was this song that made it famous. Another song filled with some great trumpet playing, along with the rest of the band. I like the constant chunking away of the guitar against the dirty, lazy sounding winds. I like Cab’s dancing also, but I guess that can’t really go into this critique. Anyone remember his version of this song from The Blues Brothers?
Kelly:
What a great song. I'd say this is probably the most well known song we've had on the list so far. His voice is FANTASTIC and powerful, and there's not much that sounds better than a tight big band. It must have been quite the scene watching this at the Cotton Club back in the day. It's still kind of raunchy (I imagine a kick line with that opening phrase), but best of all, it's fun and a great listen. 5/5!
I'm including a live performance so you can see his awesome dancing/character!
It would be easy to pass this one off as a 1930's novelty song if it wasn't an iconic blend of big band sound and scat style singing. Cab's signature number has amazing longevity from the original recording, to the 1958 version Kelly supplied, to it's inclusion in the Blues Brothers movie it doesn't lose much. Cab was an incredible showman and innovator, from his influential dance moves (James Brown, Michel Jackson) to his and Duke Ellington's breaking of the mainstream radios colour barrier. We had an old 78 of this in our house when I was very young and it got lots of air time. 5/5
ReplyDeleteRD
I recognized the song immediately but the version I heard must have been from The Blues Brothers since it definitely wasn't the type of music my parents had on in the house when I was a child. Did you know Peter also sings it on Family Guy?
ReplyDeleteYes, this. I loved the Dizzy story - so badass. Cab Calloway has so much character and swag, it's amazing he isn't sampled by more rap. That being said, Outkast does a tribute with The Mighty O that I'm a total sucker for. Leave it to me to drop a hip hop reference while we're still in the 1920's.
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