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.
I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby
Cab Calloway Lyrics
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Tell me, what can worry me?
I'm crazy 'bout my baby,
And my baby's crazy 'bout me!
Mr. Cupid was our teacher,
That's the reason we agree,
I'm crazy 'bout my baby,
Parson, get your book out,
Get it ready in your hand,
Keep a steady look-out;
'Cause I know you understand.
We're an A-one combination,
The perfect he and she,
I'm crazy 'bout my baby,
And my baby's crazy 'bout me!
The lyrics to Cab Calloway & His Orchestra's song I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby express the immense happiness and contentment of the singer. He claims to be the world's most happy creature and asks what could possibly worry him. The reason for his elation is simple - he is crazy about his baby, and, more importantly, his baby is crazy about him too. The couple's love is so strong that they credit Mr. Cupid as their teacher. The lyrics suggest that the perfect match made in heaven is what's responsible for their happiness.
The singer addresses the Parson, asking him to get his book ready and keep a steady lookout because he knows the Parson understands their relationship's depth. He goes on to say that he and his baby are an A-one combination; the perfect he and she. Their love for one another is so intense that it transcends all worries in the world. The lyrics of the song speak volumes about the bliss that two people in love can bring to each other's lives.
Overall, Calloway's I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby is a feel-good song about the bliss of being in love. The lyrics express a couple's intense love and affection for each other, which is so profound that they are oblivious to the world's worries.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the world's most happy creature,
I'm extremely happy and content with everything in my life.
Tell me, what can worry me?
I have no worries or concerns because I am so happy.
I'm crazy 'bout my baby,
I am deeply in love with my significant other.
And my baby's crazy 'bout me!
My significant other is just as in love with me as I am with them.
Mr. Cupid was our teacher,
Cupid, the god of love, brought us together and taught us how to love each other.
That's the reason we agree,
Our love for each other is the reason we get along so well as a couple.
Parson, get your book out,
Addressing the pastor, I need you to get your holy book or bible out.
Get it ready in your hand,
Hold it in your hand and be prepared to perform a wedding ceremony.
Keep a steady look-out;
Be alert and ready to officiate the ceremony.
'Cause I know you understand.
I have faith that you know what you're doing and will ensure that the ceremony goes smoothly.
We're an A-one combination,
We are the perfect couple or match.
The perfect he and she,
We are perfect for each other, both in personality and looks.
I'm crazy 'bout my baby,
I am deeply in love with my significant other.
And my baby's crazy 'bout me!
My significant other is just as in love with me as I am with them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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