Cabell "Cab" Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was a jaz… Read Full Bio ↴Cabell "Cab" Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was a jazz singer, bandleader, composer and actor. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City, where he was a regular performer.
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.

Harlem Holiday
Cab Calloway Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There'll be bands everywhere, going to town
There'll be planes in the air
Flying all around
The browns will be there, laying 'em down
Every day will be a Harlem holiday

No more work, only play
You sleep when you choose

You get paid any way now tell me
Ain't that news?
Every song will be gay, no weary blues
Every day will be a Harlem Holiday

When the whole world's down
And the times look blue
You'll be high up on lenox avenue

There'll be gals on the bank
Gin will be free
If you don't get a break, don't blame me
Every spot that you got will

Be hotter than hot
Every day will be a Harlem holiday!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cab Calloway's song "Harlem Holiday" paint a vivid picture of the vibrant and joyful atmosphere in Harlem during the 1930s. The song celebrates the energy, entertainment, and freedom that can be found in this bustling neighborhood in New York City.

The opening lines suggest a festive mood with bands playing music all around, indicating that there will be non-stop excitement and celebration. The mention of planes flying in the air adds an element of grandeur and implies that people from all over will come to experience the magic of Harlem. The "browns" referenced in the lyrics are likely African Americans who will be performing and wowing the crowds. The phrase "laying 'em down" suggests that they'll be delivering incredible performances that will leave the audience in awe.

The chorus further emphasizes the spirit of leisure and freedom that Harlem offers. The lyrics suggest that work is no longer a priority, and people can focus solely on enjoying themselves. The line "You sleep when you choose, you get paid any way" implies that individuals have the autonomy to decide their own schedules, and they are financially secure enough to not worry about work. This idea is reinforced with the phrase "no weary blues," which suggests a life free from hardships and worries.

The lyrics also highlight the resilience and spirit of Harlem. When the rest of the world may be feeling down and facing difficulties, Harlem stands tall. The line "you'll be high up on Lenox Avenue" signifies that even in tough times, Harlem remains a place of inspiration and hope. The song acknowledges the challenges faced by African Americans at that time, but it also showcases their ability to find joy and create a thriving community.

Overall, "Harlem Holiday" is a celebration of the unique and vibrant culture of Harlem, capturing the excitement, freedom, and resilience that defined this iconic neighborhood.

Line by Line Meaning

There'll be bands everywhere, going to town
Music will be playing everywhere, creating a lively atmosphere in Harlem.

There'll be planes in the air Flying all around
The excitement in Harlem will be so great that even the skies will be filled with airplanes.

The browns will be there, laying 'em down
Talented African American performers will be giving outstanding performances and impressing everyone.

Every day will be a Harlem holiday
The vibrant and joyful atmosphere of Harlem will make it feel like a holiday every day.

No more work, only play
There will be no more tedious work or responsibilities, only enjoyable activities.

You sleep when you choose You get paid any way now tell me Ain't that news?
You have the freedom to sleep whenever you want, and you will still receive payment for your endeavors. Isn't that exciting?

Every song will be gay, no weary blues
Every song played in Harlem will be lively and cheerful, without any sad or gloomy tunes.

Every day will be a Harlem Holiday
The joyful spirit of Harlem will persist every single day, creating a continuous celebratory atmosphere.

When the whole world's down And the times look blue You'll be high up on Lenox Avenue
Even when the rest of the world is feeling down and facing difficult times, you will be in high spirits and enjoying life on Lenox Avenue in Harlem.

There'll be gals on the bank Gin will be free
There will be beautiful women all around, and the gin will be freely available, adding to the merriment.

If you don't get a break, don't blame me
If you don't have a chance to take a break from the festivities, it is not my fault. The excitement is irresistible!

Every spot that you got will Be hotter than hot
Every place you visit in Harlem will be incredibly popular and filled with energy and excitement.

Every day will be a Harlem holiday!
The joyful and festive atmosphere of Harlem will make every single day feel like a special holiday.

Lyrics © NEIL MUSIC INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS