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.
Hey Now Hey Now
Cab Calloway Lyrics
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I was walkin' up the street, actin' big and bold
But deep down in my pockets I had no gold
Was lookin' kinda sad when, before my eyes
Was a million-dollar bill that must've fell out the skies
I said hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
I took this million dolars and looked for more
Got halfway up the dock, and I took it real real slow
And much to my surprise I was knocked right out
When I met a little chick who knew what life was all about
I said hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now
Hey now, hey now
I've got the things that I want, plus a great big car (hey now, hey now)
And every day I'm getting more pop-u-lar (hey now, hey now)
So use these magic words that can see you through (hey now, hey now)
When you ain't got no gold, and don't know what to do (hey now, hey now)
Say hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, well, hey now)
He-e-e-e-ey now
The song "Hey Now Hey Now" by Cab Calloway tells a story of luck and prosperity. The singer is walking up the street with a big ego but no money in his pockets when, to his surprise, he finds a million-dollar bill that fell out of the skies. He takes it, continues to seek his fortune, discovers a lady who knows how to live life and, ultimately, becomes wealthy and popular.
The song seems to be a representation of the American Dream, where anyone can improve their lives and achieve success with some luck and hard work. The lyrics convey a sense of happiness and triumph, the feeling of being on top of the world, and the celebration of one's good fortune. The catchy tune and rhythm add to the overall mood of the song, making it enjoyable to dance and sing along to.
Overall, "Hey Now Hey Now" is an upbeat and optimistic song that encourages listeners to believe that things will work out in the end. It is a reminder that with a little bit of luck and determination, anything is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey now, hey now
An energetic and enthusiastic greeting to grab the listener's attention.
I was walkin' up the street, actin' big and bold
I was taking confident strides towards my destination to show my purpose and determination.
But deep down in my pockets I had no gold
Even though I projected a confident image, I did not have enough money to support my lifestyle.
Was lookin' kinda sad when, before my eyes
I was feeling down in the dumps when I saw something extraordinary appear unexpectedly.
Was a million-dollar bill that must've fell out the skies
A metaphorical way of describing a sudden and unexpected windfall of good fortune.
I took this million dollars and looked for more
I took advantage of this sudden wealth to seek out more opportunities and increase my net worth.
Got halfway up the dock, and I took it real real slow
I proceeded with caution and deliberation, not wanting to squander my newfound wealth by making hasty decisions.
And much to my surprise I was knocked right out
I was caught off guard by an unexpected turn of events, likely pertaining to a romantic encounter.
When I met a little chick who knew what life was all about
I encountered a woman who had a deep understanding of life and how to live it.
I've got the things that I want, plus a great big car (hey now, hey now)
I now possess material wealth that allows me to enjoy the luxuries of life.
And every day I'm getting more pop-u-lar (hey now, hey now)
My newfound wealth and success are making me more famous and well-liked.
So use these magic words that can see you through (hey now, hey now)
I am now imparting my newfound wisdom to others, advising them to use certain phrases to attract good fortune and overcome adversity.
When you ain't got no gold, and don't know what to do (hey now, hey now)
These phrases are particularly useful for those who are struggling financially and need guidance on how to deal with their situation.
Say hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
A repetition of the catchphrase, meant to reinforce its importance and memorability.
Hey now, hey now (hey now, hey now, hey now, well, hey now)
A musical interlude that builds on the previous verses, maintaining the song's upbeat and optimistic tone.
He-e-e-e-ey now
The final emphasis on the catchphrase, signalling the end of the song and leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cab Calloway, Elton Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind