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.
Nobody's Sweetheart
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no place for you somehow
With all of those fancy clothes, silken gowns
You'll be out of place in the middle of your own hometown
When you walk down the avenue
All the folks just can't believe that it's you
With all those painted lips and painted eyes
It all seems wrong somehow
'Cause you so funny
You're nobody's sweetheart now
The lyrics to Cab Calloway's "Nobody's Sweetheart" tell the story of a woman who was once beloved and admired but has now lost her status and place in society. She has become something of a pariah, with her fancy clothes and bird of paradise not fitting in with the people back home. Calloway sings of people on the street not even recognizing her, unable to believe that she is the same person they once knew.
The imagery of "painted lips and painted eyes" adds a layer of commentary on societal expectations and beauty standards. The woman in the song has tried to conform to those standards but has ultimately ended up alone and ostracized. Cab Calloway's delivery of the lyrics is mournful yet matter-of-fact, underscoring the sad reality of the woman's situation.
Overall, "Nobody's Sweetheart" is a poignant commentary on how society can turn its back on those who don't fit its expectations, even if those expectations are impossible to meet.
Line by Line Meaning
You're nobody, nobody's sweetheart now
You are alone, without a significant other or admirer
There's no place for you somehow
There is no place for you in society as a single person
With all of those fancy clothes, silken gowns
Despite wearing expensive clothes and silk gowns
You'll be out of place in the middle of your own hometown
You will not fit in with your community as a single person
When you walk down the avenue
When you walk in public
All the folks just can't believe that it's you
The people in your community are surprised by your single status
With all those painted lips and painted eyes
Despite wearing makeup
Wearing a bird of paradise
Wearing tropical clothing
It all seems wrong somehow
Being single feels like it goes against societal norms
'Cause you so funny
Because you are unique and do not fit societal expectations
You're nobody's sweetheart now
You do not have a lover or admirer to call your own
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ernie Erdman, Gus Kahn, Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edward Sharp
This song was first issued in Chicago in 1924 and only recently (January, 2020) went into the public domain (although the Calloway recording could still be copyright protected). Actually there were many hit songs created in Chicago in 1924 including the first boogie woogie song, Chicago Stomp, and the first song promoted into a national hit by radio, It Ain't Gona' Rain No Mo'. For more information, read Chicago's Music Industry.
Izz the Wizz
Thanks for the info m8
GMAW56
Wow - unblievable that only 89 views - I've been singing this song all day - day before Valentine's Thanks for posting xoxo
Juventino Gutierrez
I know right? Beautiful tune
Daniel Weinstein
Thornton "The Reputed" Blue on the great, inimitable clarinet!
D80sman
Jammin here 2020 !
Shabannie
I enjoyed the video and the fun song.
-------Ellen
Marco Simple1 Videos International World
this is you in the photo ? you are nice
Shabannie
The picture in the icon is of the silent movie star, Clara Bow. I make videos about movie stars.
-------Ellen
Marco Simple1 Videos International World
ah yes yes, i remember now, i have see this Clara Bow, on some video