Timeless.

Legend

Cab Calloway was an iconic jazz entertainer known for his scat singing, zoot suits, and captivating performances. Leading the renowned Cab Calloway Orchestra, his hit songs like "Minnie the Moocher" and "Jumpin' Jive" defined an era and broke racial barriers in the entertainment industry, leaving an indelible mark on American history.

Life

Cab Calloway's personal life was as vibrant as his performances. He was known for his exuberant personality, love for the spotlight, and extravagant lifestyle, often betting on horses at the track. Additionally, Calloway was a trailblazer for African-American artists, advocating for racial equality in the entertainment industry.

Legacy

Cab Calloway's modern-day influence continues to resonate, as his innovative scat singing and energetic stage presence continues to inspire contemporary artists across many genres. His contributions to breaking racial barriers also serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Today, his legacy lives on through the artists he has influenced and the enduring impact of his performance on popular culture.

Cab records his signature song “Minnie the Moocher”, the first musical recording by a black artist to sell 1 million records. 1931

Cab and his band take residence at the Cotton Club and become Cab Calloway and the Cotton Club Orchestra. 1930

Cab Calloway singing in Paramount Film 'Jitterbug Party'

Cab stars in Jitterbug Party, a Paramount Pictures music short film that popularizes the term"'jitterbug". 1935

Cab and his band standing outside the colored entrance to a venue, 1934

Cab and his band become one of the first Northern Black performers to tour the US South. 1934

Cab performing on stage wearing a zoot suit

1940s

Cab Calloway standing on stage next to a woman

Cab's radio show “Quizzical” is the first nationally broadcasted show by a Black music artist. 1941

Cab Calloway wearing his iconic Zoot suit, 1943

Cab popularizes the Zoot suit along side Lena Horne and Bill Robinson in the 20th Century Fox film Stormy Weather. 1943

Cab published the fifth and final version of The Hepster's Dictionary, the definitive jive slang glossary. 1944

Old timey photo of Cab Calloway performing in Cuba

Cab travels to Cuba with a small band to play the Montmartre and open the island to other bands. 1948

1950s

Cab Calloway and other performer on stage watching a woman reading a script

Cab Calloway shuffling a deck of cards on the stage of Porgy and Bess

Cab stars on Broadway in Porgy and Bess as "Sportin’ Life" , a role that George Gershwin originally wrote for him. 1952

Cab Calloway and wife Nuffie on the cover of Ebony Magazine, 1955

Cab and his wife Nuffie are featured on the cover of Ebony Magazine. 1955

Cab Calloway walking along side Nat King Cole and Eartha Kitt, 1958

Cab performs on TV and in several films, including St. Louis Blues with Nat King Cole and Eartha Kitt. 1958

1960s

Cab Calloway standing with a member of The Harlem Globetrotters

Poster promoting Cab Calloway and The Harlem Globetrotters

Cab tours with The Harlem Globetrotters as part of the halftime show, dazzling audiences across the country. 1961

Cab Calloway and Steve McQueen on the set of The Cincinnati Kid

Cab stars in the Hollywood film The Cincinatti Kid along side Steve McQueen. 1965

Cab Calloway performing on stage with Pearl Bailey in Hello Dolly!, 1967

Cab stars as Horace Vandergelder along side Pearl Bailey in the all-Black cast Broadway production of Hello Dolly! 1967

1970s

Cab Calloway standing next to a woman in The Pajama Game

Cab Calloway performing on stage with Barbara McNair in The Pajama Game, 1973

Cab stars on Broadway in The Pajama Game with Barbara McNair at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. 1973

Cover of Cab Calloway's autobiography, Of Minnie The Moocher & Me

Cab publishes his autobiography Of Minnie The Moocher & Me co-written by Bryant Rollins. 1976

Cab Calloway standing with Sesame Street's The Count, 1978

Cab films several episodes of Sesame Street including a duet with The Count. 1978

1980s

Cab Calloway on set of The Blues Brothers

Cab stars in musical film The Blues Brothers directed by John Landis along side Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi. 1980

Cab Calloway standing ringside with a professional wrestler at Wrestlemania 2, 1986

Cab is featured ringside for WrestleMania 2 at the Nassau Colliseum in New York City. 1986

Poster showing Cab Calloway and his daughter Chris

Cab and his daughter Chris perform for years across Europe at various Jazz festivals. 1987

1990s

Cab Calloway sitting next to Ray Charles

Janet Jackson features Cab in the music video for her hit single "Alright". 1990

Cab receives the Song Citation Recipient Award from the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. 1991

Photo of Cab receiving National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton

Cab receives National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton. 1993

The timeline ends here, but the legacy continues...