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.
Blues In The Night
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was in knee pants,
My mamma done tol' me, "Son!
A woman'll sweet talk, and give ya the big eye,
But when the sweet talkin's done,
A woman's a two-face,
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya t' sing
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train a-callin' "whoo-ee"!
(My mamma done tol' me.)
Hear that lonesome whistle
Blowin 'cross the trestle, "whooee,"
(My mamma done tol' me.)
A whooee-a-whooee,
Ol' clickety clack's a-echo-in' back the blues in the night
(Hum---)
My mamma was right, there's blues in the night
The song "Blues In The Night" is a lament on the perils of love and relationships. The first verse sets up the theme that a woman may sweet talk and lure a man in, but ultimately she may leave him heartbroken, resulting in him "singing the blues" - expressing his sorrow through song. The verses are essentially a message from the singer's mother who warned him about the danger of opening oneself up to love. The chorus describes the sound of the rain falling and the train whistle blowing in the night, which serves as a metaphor for the loneliness and pain the singer experiences in his romantic life.
The lyrics are particularly poignant because they express a universal truth about love, that it often starts with excitement and promise but can end in heartbreak and desolation. The rain and train sounds evoke a sense of melancholy and isolation, and the singer's use of the phrase "blues in the night" captures the essence of the deep sadness that can come with the end of a romance. The song is a reminder that while love can bring great joy, it can also be a painful experience.
Line by Line Meaning
My mamma done tol' me,
My mother gave me advice
When I was in knee pants,
When I was young and naive
My mamma done tol' me, "Son!
My mother specifically told me, 'Son!'
A woman'll sweet talk, and give ya the big eye,
A woman can use flattery to manipulate and seduce you.
But when the sweet talkin's done,
Once the compliments and flattering words stop,
A woman's a two-face,
A woman can reveal her true, unflattering self
A worrisome thing who'll leave ya t' sing
A worrying situation in which she has left you to be sad
The blues in the night"
A sense of sadness and loss that can only be felt at night
Now the rain's a-fallin',
It's raining outside currently
Hear the train a-callin' "whoo-ee"!
I hear a train whistle sounding in the distance
(My mamma done tol' me.)
(As my mother warned me)
Hear that lonesome whistle
I hear the mournful sound of the train whistle
Blowin 'cross the trestle, "whooee,"
The sound is echoing across the bridge
(My mamma done tol' me.)
(As my mother warned me)
A whooee-a-whooee,
A mournful sound echoing
Ol' clickety clack's a-echo-in' back the blues in the night
The sound of the train's wheels make a rhythmic clicking sound that feels sad
(Hum---)
(A humming sound)
My mamma was right, there's blues in the night
My mother was correct, there is a sense of sadness and loss at night that can be hard to shake
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@silverperryhobart6560
@nealbradleigh5069
🙋♀️Cab's daughter performed with him at the Ritz 😊...
What a great show it was...
Absolutely 💯 ...I agree...
and such professionalism...
Sam and Dave performed 🎭 2 shows for 2 nights at the Coventry in Sunnyside Queens, complete with costume change for an intimate (small) audience in 1983 and played with the energy as if it was Madison Square Garden! ...
Yes, indeed, we were very lucky to live during those times...
When talent and creativity was at its Zenith...in my humble opinion 😌
Thanks for the comment 👍 😀
Peace out ✌️ ☮️💌
@leamalcic6941
LYRICS :
My momma done tol' me
When I was in knee-pants
My momma done tol' me, "Son, (What did she tell you?)
A woman gon' sweet-talk (Yeah!)
And give you de glad-eyes, (Ah, ahh...)
But when that sweet-talk is done: (Keep on a-talkin')
A woman's a two-faced
A worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues... (The blues...)
In the night." (Yes, in the night)
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train a-callin' - (Oo-ee...)
My momma done tol' me. (Oh...)
Hey, that lonesome whistle's
Blowin' 'cross the trestle. (Oo-ee...)
My momma done tol' me. (Hey, ahoo-ee, ahoo-ee!)
A clickety-clackin'
And echoin' back at the blues...
In the night
The evenin' breeze - The stars -
The trees a-cryin' and the moon
'll hide its light
When you get the blues
In the night. (It's really tough to get the blues in the night)
Take my word:
The mockingbird
Sings the saddest kind of song;
He knows things are wrong -
And he's right. (Yes, he's right to sing the blues in the night)
From Natchez to Mobile;
From Memphis to St. Joe;
Wherever the four winds blow; (They blow everywhere!)
I been in some big towns, (Yeah!)
And I done heard me some big talk, (Ahh, ahh...)
But there's one thing I know: (Keep a-talkin')
A woman's a-two-faced -
A worrisome thing
Who'll leave you to sing the blues... (The blues)
In the night. (Yes, in the night)
(A woman will leave you singin' the blues)
I know she will -
My momma was right:
The blues in the night
@silverperryhobart6560
"Blues in the Night" music composer was my cousin, Harold Arlen... lyrics by Johnny Mercer...Cab Callaway sang it live at the Ritz, N.Y.C. on my birthday, March 28, 1985... what a thrill it was! He was as fabulous as ever!
@nealbradleigh5069
Now THAT'S an industry 'war story' My mother knew Cab and his daughter personally, along with other music people.
The skills AND ENERGY that these greats brought to the stage and existing media were unbelievable (devoid of today hokey over-the-top pyrotechnics to hide the lack of musical creativity)!
@silverperryhobart6560
@nealbradleigh5069
🙋♀️Cab's daughter performed with him at the Ritz 😊...
What a great show it was...
Absolutely 💯 ...I agree...
and such professionalism...
Sam and Dave performed 🎭 2 shows for 2 nights at the Coventry in Sunnyside Queens, complete with costume change for an intimate (small) audience in 1983 and played with the energy as if it was Madison Square Garden! ...
Yes, indeed, we were very lucky to live during those times...
When talent and creativity was at its Zenith...in my humble opinion 😌
Thanks for the comment 👍 😀
Peace out ✌️ ☮️💌
@lemurianchick
@@silverperryhobart6560He wrote "That Old Black Magic," "Get Happy," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow..." 😳
@silverperryhobart6560
@lemurianchick Yes! I know 🙆♀️👊Pretty incredible, right?😍 I only wish I had a fraction of his talent 🤷🏻♀️ ( no claim to fame justa luckyrelative) 🙋🏽♀️....
such an amazing catalog of songs so many people still hum, whistle and sing along to...what a great collaboration with Mercer...
Thanks for listing more wonderful music ❤️ written by Harold Arlen ( BTW originally Arluck) 🙃...
Peace out
✌️ ☮️❤️🌬✨️
@lemurianchick
@@silverperryhobart6560 How old are you?
@DrCrabfingers
The backing vocals were utterly sublime.....totally harmonic and the timbre was silky.....the best I have EVER heard.
@excon1122
Oh my. That face. This guy could sing the saddest song in the world but as long as you can see his smile, you just can't help but feel happy and good. Cab was truly amazing.
@goback3spaces
Yeah, that's the problem. Cab was happiness personified and this is one of the saddest songs ever written.
@snowwhite3606
He really felt Music. Music took over his soul it seemed.