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.
The Hi-De-Ho Man
Cab Calloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How'd you like to blow your top
Dig yourself some fine ree-bop
Hi-de-hi, he-de-he
Oh, the hi-de-ho man, that's me
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
He-de he-de he-de he (He-de he-de he-de he)
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Say I hepped'em in London,
I hepped'em in Holland
I hepped'em in gay Paris
Yes sirree, yes sirree
Oh the hi-de-ho man, that's me
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Hey-hey de hey-de (Hey-hey)
He-he-de he-de he (He-de he-de he)
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Say, Jack, ain't you glad you dug my jive
Looky here, Mitch hand me over that ripe, greasy five
Hi-de-ho, he-de-he
Oh the hi-de-ho man, that's me
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Hey-hey de hey-de (Hey-hey de hey-de)
He-he-de he-de he (He-he-de he-de he)
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi ((Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Say, Jack, be solid and mellow, be a real groovy fella
And your gonna be just about as sharp as me
Yes sirree, yes sirree
Oh the hi-de-ho man, that's me
Hi-de-hi (Hi-de-hi)
Hey-de-hey (Hey-de-hey)
Oh-ho-de-ho-de (Ho-de-ho-de)
Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
The hi-de-ho man, that's me
The song, "Hi De Ho Man" by Cab Calloway is a jazzy tune about the singer, Hi De Ho Man, introducing himself and his musical skills. The lyrics express a sense of pride in his ability to play music and entertain people with his unique style of jazz. The song also calls to the audience to join in and enjoy themselves by blowing their top and digging some fine ree-bop.
The first two lines of the song, "How'd you like to blow your top, dig yourself some fine ree-bop" call to the listener to let go of their inhibitions and fully immerse themselves in the music. Cab Calloway's charismatic voice and lively beat further emphasize the invitation to let loose and have a good time.
The lyrics "Say, Jack, ain't you glad you dug my jive, looky here, Mitch hand me over that ripe, greasy five" showcases camaraderie with the band members and is a nod to the improvisational nature of jazz music. The line "be solid and mellow, be a real groovy fella, and you're gonna be just about as sharp as me" can be interpreted as an encouragement towards the audience to embrace this carefree attitude towards music and personal expression.
Overall, "Hi De Ho Man" is a lively and joyful song that reflects the spirit of jazz music and its ability to create a sense of community and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
The hi-de-ho man, that's me
I am the hi-de-ho man
How'd you like to blow your top
Do you want to get excited?
Dig yourself some fine ree-bop
Enjoy some great music
Hi-de-hi, he-de-he
Happy and joyful
Say I hepped'em in London, I hepped'em in Holland, I hepped'em in gay Paris
I performed and entertained in London, Holland and Paris
Oh the hi-de-ho man, that's me
I am the hi-de-ho man
Say Jack, ain't you glad you dug my jive
Jack, are you happy that you enjoy my style of music/jive?
Looky here, Mitch hand me over that ripe, greasy five
Mitch, give me some money
Hi-de-ho, he-de-he
Happy and joyful
Say, Jack, be solid and mellow, be a real groovy fella
Jack, be calm and cool, be a good person
And your gonna be just about as sharp as me
You will be as good as me
Yes sirree, yes sirree
Absolutely, without a doubt
Hi-de-hi (Hi-de-hi), Hey-de-hey (Hey-de-hey), Oh-ho-de-ho-de (Ho-de-ho-de), Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi (Hi-de hi-de hi-de-hi)
Happy and joyful sounds
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: B. HARDING, C. CALLOWAY, J. PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1kevtalktoem
Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah,
Whatchu call an Icon livin
Start a record label MSFTS just did it (woo)
Nylon cover, five minutes, whoa
We up too hot in the business (woo)
'Bout to make a movie independent (woo)
Need new trucks, Independent (woo)
I need you to listen to the vision (woo)
All your verses sound like dirty dishes (Gross)
I'm about to clean 'em in the kitchen (woo)
And we making money by the minute (woo)
I'm about to do it way different
I am just an icon living
I am just an icon living, living
I-i-icon living (woo)
I am just an icon living, living
I am just an i-i-icon (woo)
@martinoamello3017
Cab Calloway came from the professional class. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a Morgan State grad and a teacher. He was kind of the black sheep of the family if you can imagine that. He wrote and published the dictionary of jive and it sold a lot of copies.. Quite the innovator in not only music and performance, but on American culture we're not likely to ever see the likes of again. Cab Calloway was WAY ahead of his time, both loved and hated by different parts of the public and he most definitely changed stage performance in almost every musical genre.. One thing he will never be stand accused of is being low energy..
@Wajlonis
Cab Calloway was one of those rare cases of True Greatness, one of those rare few folks who managed to get to the top, fall down and re-launch their career even higher. Truly an inspiring man.
@sb-eu7ej
Genius.
@pwoxlodk8200
When he went down
@bungieflute
@@pwoxlodk8200 never
@kingsley9352
I canβt believe people didnβt make beats out of that before that tbh. This slaps like crazy.
@zwelabontshangase9298
Bro! Was thinking the same thing
@YICWMTK
i come here bc i wanted to hear the original sample of jadens song icon
@CoolDrifty
at least icon will give a legend like cab calloway more recognition
@1kevtalktoem
true