Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States' most popular big bands, Cab Calloway and his Orchestra, from the start of the 1930s through to the late 1940s. Calloway's band featured performers including trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Doc Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Chu Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
Calloway was born to a middle-class family in Rochester, New York, and lived there until 1918. He later lived in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Cabell Calloway II, was a lawyer, and his mother, Martha Eulalia Reed, was a teacher and church organist. His parents recognised their son's musical talent, and he began private voice lessons in 1922. He continued to study music and voice throughout his formal schooling. Despite his parents' and vocal teachers' disapproval of jazz, Calloway began frequenting and eventually performing in many of Baltimore's jazz clubs, where he was mentored by drummer Chick Webb and pianist Johnny Jones.
After graduating from high school, Calloway joined his older sister, Blanche, in a touring production of the popular black musical revue Plantation Days (Blanche Calloway herself went on to become an accomplished bandleader before her brother did, and he often credited his inspiration to enter show business to her). Calloway attended Lincoln University, Pennsylvania , and left in 1930 without graduating.
When the tour ended in Chicago in the autumn, Cab decided to remain in Chicago with his sister, who had an established career as a jazz singer in that city. His parents had hopes of their son becoming a lawyer like his father, so Calloway enrolled in Crane College. His main interest, however, was in singing and entertaining, and he spent most of his nights at the Dreamland Cafe, the Sunset Cafe, and the Club Berlin, performing as a drummer, singer, and emcee. At the Sunset Cafe he met and performed with Louis Armstrong who taught him to sing in the scat style.
The Cotton Club was the premier jazz venue in the country, and Cab Calloway and his Orchestra (he had taken over a brilliant but failing band called "The Missourians" in 1930) were hired as a replacement for the Duke Ellington Orchestra while they were touring. Calloway quickly proved so popular that his band became the co-house band with Ellington's, and he and his group began touring nationwide when not playing at the Cotton Club. Their popularity was greatly enhanced by the twice-weekly live national radio broadcasts on NBC at the Cotton Club. Calloway also appeared on Walter Winchell's radio program and with Bing Crosby in his show at the Paramount Theatre. As a result of these appearances, Calloway, together with Ellington, broke the major broadcast network colour barrier.
Unlike many other bands of comparable commercial success, Calloway's gave ample soloing space to its lead members, and, through the varied arrangements of Walter 'Foots' Thomas, provided much more in the way of musical interest.
In 1931, he recorded his most famous song, "Minnie the Moocher". That song, together with "St James Infirmary Blues" and "The Old Man of the Mountain", were performed for the Betty Boop animated shorts Minnie the Moocher, Snow White, and The Old Man of the Mountain respectively. Through rotoscoping, Cab not only gave his voice to these cartoons but his dance steps as well. Cab took advantage of this and timed his concerts in some communities with the release of the films in order to make the most of the attention. As a result of the success of "Minnie the Moocher" he became identified with its chorus, gaining the nickname "The Hi De Ho Man". He also performed in a series of short films for Paramount in the 1930s (Calloway and Ellington were featured on film more than any other Jazz Orchestra of the era). In 1943 he appeared in the high-profile 20th Century Fox musical film, Stormy Weather.
In his later career, Calloway became a popular personality, appearing in a number of films and stage productions that utilised both his acting and singing talents. In 1952, he played the prominent role of Sportin' Life in a production of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess. Another notable role was Yeller in The Cincinnati Kid (1965). In 1967 Calloway co-starred as Horace Vandergelder in an all-black revival of Hello, Dolly! (even though the original production was still running) starring Pearl Bailey. This was a major success, and led to a cast recording released by RCA. In 1973-1974 he was featured in an unsuccessful Broadway revival of The Pajama Game.
Calloway attracted renewed interest in 1980 when he appeared as a supporting character in the film The Blues Brothers, performing "Minnie the Moocher", and again when he sang "The Jumpin' Jive" with the Two-Headed Monster on Sesame Street. This was also the year in which the cult film Forbidden Zone was released, which included rearrangements and parodies of Cab Calloway songs written by Danny Elfman, a Calloway fan.
On 18th November 1994 Calloway died, having suffered a major stroke six months earlier. In 1998, The Cab Calloway Orchestra (directed by Cab's grandson C. "CB" Calloway Brooks) was formed to honour Cab Calloway's legacy nationally and internationally.
A Chicken Ain't Nothing but a Bird
Cab Calloway Lyrics
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Barbecue chicken, won't you send it down the line?
Say, everyone's talking 'bout chicken
Chicken's a popular word
But anywhere you go, you're bound to find
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird
That's the story I heard
But let 'em call it this and let 'em call it that
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird
You can boil it, roast it, broil it
Cook it in a pan or a pot
Eat it with potatoes, rice or tomatoes
But chicken's still what you got, boy
It was a dish for old Caesar
Also King Henry the Third
But Columbus was smart, said, "you can't fool me
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird"
You can boil it, roast it, broil it
Cook it in a pan or a pot
Eat it with potatoes, rice or tomatoes
A chicken's still what you got, boy
It was a dish for old Caesar
Also King Henry the Third
But Columbus was smart, said, "you can't fool me
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird"
Cab Calloway's song "A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird" is a fun and playful take on the popular dish of fried chicken. The song highlights that no matter what people call it, a chicken is just a bird. Calloway sings about the various ways chicken can be prepared, from boiling and roasting to frying and broiling. He also references historical figures who enjoyed the dish, such as Caesar and King Henry III. However, in the end, Calloway emphasizes that no matter how you prepare it, a chicken is still a chicken.
The lyrics to the song are both humorous and insightful, touching on the human tendency to overcomplicate things that are actually quite simple. Calloway's use of wordplay and clever rhymes adds to the playful nature of the song. The use of the repeated line "a chicken ain't nothin' but a bird" is particularly effective in driving home the central message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Chicken, nice fried chicken
Fried chicken sure is delicious.
Barbecue chicken, won't you send it down the line?
I'd really love some barbecue chicken, could you pass it over here?
Say, everyone's talking 'bout chicken
I've noticed that people tend to talk about chicken a lot.
Chicken's a popular word
The word 'chicken' is used frequently and is well-known.
But anywhere you go, you're bound to find
No matter where you travel, you're likely to encounter chickens.
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird
Despite its popularity and various names, a chicken is simply a bird.
Some people call it a fowl
There are those who refer to chickens as 'fowl.'
That's the story I heard
At least, that's what I've been told.
But let 'em call it this and let 'em call it that
People can use whatever words they like to describe the chicken.
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird
Regardless of what it's called, a chicken is still just a type of bird.
You can boil it, roast it, broil it
There are many ways to prepare chicken, from boiling to roasting to broiling.
Cook it in a pan or a pot
Chicken can be cooked using a number of different methods, such as using a pan or a pot.
Eat it with potatoes, rice or tomatoes
Chicken can be enjoyed with a variety of side dishes, including potatoes, rice or tomatoes.
But chicken's still what you got, boy
Regardless of how it's cooked and what it's served with, you're still eating chicken.
It was a dish for old Caesar
Chicken was enjoyed by Julius Caesar in ancient Rome.
Also King Henry the Third
Chicken was consumed by King Henry III of England during the Middle Ages.
But Columbus was smart, said, "you can't fool me
Christopher Columbus recognized that a chicken is simply a type of bird, despite its various names and preparations.
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird
In the end, no matter its history, preparation or name, a chicken is still a bird.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EMMETT WALLACE, EMMETT 'BABE' WALLACE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind