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.
Strange as It Seems
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strange as it seems,
Deep down in my heart, I do
Strange as it seems, I keep on thinking of you
Clinging to dreams, dreams that I know will not come true
One night of bliss, one stolen kiss
Is thrilling me yet
now must forget we ever met
Though you can be nothing to me I want you
Strange as it seems,
Deep in my heart, I do.
Scatting
Strange as it seems to me
Scatting
Strange as it seems,
Deep in my heart, I love you, baby.
The lyrics to Cab Calloway's song "Strange as It Seems" depict a person who is aware that their love for someone is unreciprocated and ultimately futile. Despite knowing this, they cannot help but think about the individual in question and cling onto the dream of being with them. The lyrics suggest that the person has experienced a moment of passion with the object of their affection, but that it is now something they must forget. The song ends with the person confessing that they love the other individual deeply, despite the hopelessness of the situation.
The lyrics of "Strange as It Seems" are representative of the types of themes that were common in many songs during the early 20th century. During this time, people often used music as a form of escapism to deal with the challenges and struggles of everyday life. The song also reflects the societal norms of the era, which often prescribed strict rules of conduct for relationships and romantic partnerships. Many people during this time lived in social and cultural environments which stigmatized actions that deviated from societal expectations.
Some interesting facts about the song "Strange as It Seems" include that it was a part of the 1932 film "The Big Broadcast," which also featured the famous song "Anything Goes" by Cole Porter. The song was later covered by Fats Waller and other famous musicians over the years. Another interesting fact is that Cab Calloway, who wrote and performed the song, was known for his energetic and show-stopping performances, which were often characterized by his signature dance moves and scatting. Additionally, Calloway was influential in popularizing jazz music during the early 20th century.
The chords for "Strange as It Seems" are:
Verse: Fmaj7, A7, Dm, Gm7
Chorus: Fmaj7, A7, Dm, G7, C9
Note that there may be variations to the chords depending on how the performer interprets the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Though I know I'm wasting my time to love you.
Even though I understand my love for you is futile.
Strange as it seems, Deep down in my heart, I do
It may be strange or unexpected, but I truly love you.
Strange as it seems, I keep on thinking of you Clinging to dreams, dreams that I know will not come true
I can't stop thinking about you, even though I know my dreams of being with you are unrealistic.
One night of bliss, one stolen kiss Is thrilling me yet
Despite our brief encounter, I'm still entranced by the memory of being with you.
Why should it be our loving it be now must forget we ever met
Unfortunately, it seems like we have to forget we ever crossed paths and move on from our short-lived affair.
Though you can be nothing to me I want you Strange as it seems, Deep in my heart, I do.
Even though it's impossible for us to be together, I still desire you because I love you so deeply.
Scatting
Non-lyrical, improvisational singing.
Strange as it seems to me
It may seem bizarre to others, but this is how I truly feel.
Scatting
Non-lyrical, improvisational singing.
Strange as it seems, Deep in my heart, I love you, baby.
Despite all odds, my love for you remains true and unyielding.
Contributed by Elizabeth H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@roybo1930
LOVE THIS!!!
@dlowerre
I am SO glad you are posting again!
@Ghost-jg6nm
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