Artist:Cab Calloway
Song:Oh Grandpa
Album:Are You Hep To The Jive?
Cab Calloway is a pioneer of black music and culture and one of the greatest entertainers ever. But some people forget that he had a killer band. Mr. Hi-De-Ho was born Dec. 25, 1907 in Rochester, NY and grew up in Baltimore. While working with The Missourians, he got a role in the 1929 revue Hot Chocolates. He then became a regular at the Cotton Club and had a huge hit with Minnie The Moocher in 1931. He appeared in several films and was the best known black entertainer of the era. As Big Band music became more popular, Calloway wisely emphasized his band's sound while continuing his crazy gyrations on stage. He continued to be popular in the 40s and he starred in the 1943 film Stormy Weather. Plenty of great musicians came through his band and he was very influential to subsequent great entertainers like Louis Jordan. Oh Grandpa is a very typical Calloway song from the 40s and it still sounds great today. Are You Hep To The Jive? is probably the best comp to get for his 40s recordings. After the Big Band era ended, Calloway continued to appear on TV occasionally and it was cool to see him and the Nicholas Bros. in the Janet Jackson video Alright. That just acknowledges him as the icon he is. Cab Calloway died on Nov. 18, 1994 at age 86. Here's Cab Calloway & His Orchestra performing Geechie Joe from the 1943 film Stormy Weather.
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