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.

@cabcalloway

Explore the Timeline of a Legend...

1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s

1930s

Young Cab Calloway posing as conductor
Close up of Minnie the Moocher record
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
Cab and his band become among of the first black performers to tour the US South and Europe.

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
Cab and his band become among of the first black performers to tour the US South and Europe.

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
Cab and his band become among of the first black performers to tour the US South and Europe.

1980s

Young Cab Calloway posing as conductor
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
Cab and his band become among of the first black performers to tour the US South and Europe.

1990s

Cab Calloway sitting next to Ray Charles
Cab Calloway with Janet Jackson, 1990
Janet Jackson features Cab in the music video for her hit single "Alright". 1990
Cab Calloway with Gene Autry
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
Cab and his band become among of the first black performers to tour the US South and Europe.
The timeline ends here, but the legacy continues...