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.
Old Yazoo
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything up here is new (yeah)
I can't stand it, you just must land it
The choo-choo back to old Yazoo (Oh)
Almost everything ya do (Why?)
People got their eyes on you (No)
It's compelling, you hear me yellin'
If you don't like beans and rice
Get your rice and beans
If you don't like greens and ham
Just get your ham and greens
How long will I have to wait
Standing at that station gate
My mind's made up, thing's are jammed up
I'm going back to ole Yazoo
The lyrics to "Old Yazoo" by Cab Calloway & His Orchestra tell the story of a person who wants to go back to their hometown, Yazoo. They express a sense of nostalgia and dissatisfaction with their current surroundings, emphasizing the need to escape and return to a simpler time. The mention of the choo-choo train refers to the desire for transportation that will take them back to their beloved Yazoo.
The lyrics also touch on the feeling of being watched and judged in their present environment. This creates a sense of unease and discomfort, further fueling their desire to leave. The repetition of the phrase "yeah man" adds a sense of urgency and certainty to their decision.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to a more humorous tone, contrasting the emotional longing with a playful reference to food preferences. The lines suggest that if one dislikes certain staple foods, they should simply switch them around or combine them differently. This lightheartedness provides a brief respite from the longing for their hometown.
Overall, the lyrics of "Old Yazoo" convey a yearning for a familiar place and a discontent with the present situation, leading the singer to seek solace and comfort by returning to their roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back to old Yazoo (yeah)
I yearn to return to the familiar and comfortable surroundings of old Yazoo.
Everything up here is new (yeah)
The current environment feels foreign and unfamiliar compared to old Yazoo.
I can't stand it, you just must land it
I find it unbearable and insist on taking the inevitable journey back to old Yazoo.
The choo-choo back to old Yazoo (Oh)
I am eagerly awaiting the return trip on the train that will take me back to old Yazoo.
Almost everything ya do (Why?)
Virtually every action you take attracts attention and scrutiny.
People got their eyes on you (No)
Others are constantly observing and monitoring your every move.
It's compelling, you hear me yellin'
The situation is demanding and compelling, leading me to express my distress vocally.
I'm going back to old Yazoo (yeah man)
I've firmly decided to return to the familiarity and comfort of old Yazoo.
If you don't like beans and rice
In case you have a dislike for the combination of beans and rice.
Get your rice and beans
Simply opt for a serving of rice and beans instead.
If you don't like greens and ham
If you happen to dislike the combination of greens and ham.
Just get your ham and greens
Then, just have a meal consisting of ham and greens instead.
How long will I have to wait
I wonder about the duration of my expected wait.
Standing at that station gate
I am positioned at the gate of the train station, awaiting departure.
My mind's made up, thing's are jammed up
I have firmly decided and now feel anxious due to the current situation being complicated and congested.
I'm going back to ole Yazoo
My definitive choice is to return to the familiar and cherished place called ole Yazoo.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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