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.
Angeline
Cab Calloway Lyrics
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Soon will sing a lullaby
Angeline, Angeline
Bashful little whippoorwills
Can't you hear them say, "I will"
Angeline, Angeline
The deer in the woods
I know it's time for singin' in the rain
Until you make up your mind
I'll try to be good, babe
How long must I have to wait?
Can't you see my heart's a flame?
Don't you know that you're to blame?
Say you're mine, Angeline
Oh, Angeline, sweet Angeline
Oh baby, I love you, Angeline
The lyrics of "Angeline" by Cab Calloway describe the beauty of nature and its creatures singing to the titular character, urging her to make a decision about their relationship. The song begins with the image of robins in the treetops singing a lullaby, followed by bashful whippoorwills who ask Angeline to be theirs. The next lines mention the presence of crickets in the meadow and deer in the woods, indicating that it's time to sing in the rain. The singer then implores Angeline to make up her mind and decide to be with him. In the final lines, he declares his love for her and begs her to reciprocate his feelings.
The lyrics of the song reflect the natural charm and romantic theme of the music of Cab Calloway. He was one of the most prominent performers of the swing era and known for his jazz and big band music. The song "Angeline" was released in 1937 and became a hit for Calloway. It was part of the musical "My Dear Public," which featured Calloway along with other notable performers. The song became one of Calloway's signature pieces and was frequently performed by him in his live shows.
Line by Line Meaning
Robins in the tree top high
The robins are perched on the treetop ready to sing a lullaby
Soon will sing a lullaby
The robins intend to sing a lullaby soon
Angeline, Angeline
The singer is addressing Angeline, whom he desires to be with
Bashful little whippoorwills
The shy little birds called whippoorwills
Can't you hear them say, "I will"
The singer is asking Angeline if she can hear the whippoorwills saying they will be together
The crickets in the meadows
The crickets are in the meadows
The deer in the woods
The deer are in the woods
I know it's time for singin' in the rain
The singer believes it's time for a joyful activity like singing in the rain
Until you make up your mind
The singer will wait for Angeline to decide whether or not to be with him
I'll try to be good, babe
The singer promises to be good to Angeline if she chooses him
How long must I wait?
The singer is asking Angeline how long he must wait for her to decide
Can't you see my heart's a flame?
The singer's heart is on fire with love for Angeline
Don't you know that you're to blame?
The singer blames Angeline for the burning passion he has for her
Say you're mine, Angeline, Angeline
The singer is asking Angeline to be his
Oh, Angeline, sweet Angeline
The singer expresses his affection for Angeline
Oh baby, I love you, Angeline
The singer declares his love for Angeline
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Alan John Carvell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
One must assume that Angeline could not resist handsome Cab's soulful pleading, in his commanding tones. I love the brass' punctuation to pianist Bennie Payne's rollicking solo.
ana mizm
💚On the bus again!💜& yamz🙃🎺luvlijubli🎷🌝