Cab Calloway was an American jazz singer, dancer, and bandleader. He was a master of the jazz vocal style known as scat singing and was an influential figure in the development of jazz and swing music. He had a long and successful career, performing in nightclubs, on Broadway, and in a number of Hollywood films. He was known for his high-energy performances, flamboyant style, and extravagant wardrobe. He was also known for his passion for the music and his commitment to the art form. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979.
| Name | Cab Calloway |
| Birth Date | December 25, 1907 |
| Genre | Jazz, Swing, Blues |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano, Trumpet |
| Notable works | Minnie the Moocher, St. Louis Blues, The Scat Song |
| Awards | Grammy Hall of Fame, ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame |
10 Best Cab Calloway Quotes
“It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Swing is a state of mind, not just a style of music.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“You got to have the ability, the imagination, and the willingness to take chances.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“You must have the desire to reach down inside of you and get it out.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“I was always a showman. I think that’s what kept me going all these years.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“I’ve tried to keep up with the times and the changes in the music.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“I think that you have to be able to see that the past is behind you, and the future is ahead of you.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“I’m a great believer in visualizing what you want to get.”
– Cab Calloway, from NPR
“My band was always a show band. We did a lot of visual things.”
– Cab Calloway, from Jazz on the Tube
“You have to have a real mental attitude to be able to do the things that you have to do.”
– Cab Calloway, from NPR
5 Inspirational Cab Calloway Quotes
“If you’re a singer, you have to find something to sing about that’s different, that’s your own.”
– Cab Calloway, from NPR
“I believe that art should entertain, but in the same breath it should educate.”
– Cab Calloway, from Jazz in America
“It’s obvious that jazz is still alive and kicking.”
– Cab Calloway, from The Guardian
“I never did believe in imitating anybody. I’ve always believed in being yourself and doing your own thing.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“You can’t move people unless you’re moving yourself.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
6 Famous Cab Calloway Quotes
“Jazz is the only music that the whole world listens to.”
– Cab Calloway, from All About Jazz
“If it sounds good, it is good.”
– Cab Calloway, from All About Jazz
“I think I’ve been a good influence on jazz music, because I brought back a lot of the traditional jazz that had been lost.”
– Cab Calloway, from The Guardian
“You had to have a good band and be able to swing it. If it wasn’t swinging, it wasn’t jazz.”
– Cab Calloway, from The Guardian
“The key to success is hard work. That’s the secret.”
– Cab Calloway, from All About Jazz
“You have to have a lot of imagination, and you have to have a lot of determination to make it.”
– Cab Calloway, from All About Jazz
8 Cab Calloway Quotes About Love
“Love is something you make. It’s not something that just happens. It’s something you have to work at.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is like a game. It’s something that you have to work at. You have to work to get it, not just sit there and expect it to come to you.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is a very difficult thing to make work, but when it does work, it is beautiful.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is something that takes time and effort. It takes a lot of understanding and a lot of patience. It doesn’t just happen by itself.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is something that you have to work to get. It’s something that you have to make happen, it doesn’t just happen on its own.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is something that is worth fighting for, and something that you should never take for granted.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is something that you have to work at. It’s something that you have to make happen. You can’t just expect it to come to you.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
“Love is something that you have to nurture, and it’s something that you have to take care of.”
– Cab Calloway, from YouTube
5 Cab Calloway Quotes About Life
“Life is full of surprises and and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.”
– Cab Calloway, from HuffPost
“Live your life and be yourself and never look back.”
– Cab Calloway, from The Guardian
“You have to have something to aim for – and you have to aim high. I’m still aiming.”
– Cab Calloway, from The Guardian
“You’ve got to be an individual, and that’s the way I’ve been all my life. You’ve got to be yourself, not a carbon copy of someone else.”
– Cab Calloway, from HuffPost
“You can’t get anywhere without having a dream.”
– Cab Calloway, from Jazz Professional
6 Quotes About Cab Calloway
“Cab Calloway was an innovator and an originator. He brought a new attitude and a new style to the music.”
– Billy Eckstine, from allmusic.com
“He was a true entertainer, a genius of his time.”
– Clark Terry, from allmusic.com
“Calloway was a complete artist, and he was totally unique.”
– Wynton Marsalis, from allmusic.com
“Cab Calloway was one of the most electrifying performers of the 20th century.”
– Michael Feinstein, from grammy.com
“Cab was a great showman, and he had a lot of charisma.”
– Louis Jordan, from allmusic.com
“Cab was a great singer, and he had a lot of style.”
– Lionel Hampton, from allmusic.com
Interview with Cab Calloway
Frequently Asked Questions About Cab Calloway
1. What is Cab Calloway most famous for?
Cab Calloway was an American jazz singer, bandleader and entertainer who rose to fame during the 1930s. He is most famous for his energetic stage presence and for his signature song “Minnie the Moocher”. His career spanned over five decades and he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1985.
Cab Calloway was a master of scat singing and improvisation. He was known for his unique style of vocal improvisation and jazz scat singing, often referred to as “jive talk”. He was also a master of comic timing. He is credited as one of the pioneers of jazz music and the swing era.
Calloway’s career extended beyond the swing era and he continued to be a popular performer into the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was also a prolific recording artist, having released several albums and singles throughout his career.
Some of Cab Calloway’s most famous quotes include:
- “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!”
- “Life is a Cabaret!”
- “Jumpin’ Jive!”
- “Hit me with a hot note!”
- “Gotta keep swinging!”
2. What is the origin of Cab Calloway’s Performance Style?
Cab Calloway was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was known for his infectious enthusiasm and flamboyant stage presence, which helped to create some of his most famous and memorable performances. But what was the origin of Cab Calloway’s performance style?
- Calloway was influenced by the vaudeville performers of the time.
- He was also inspired by jazz and blues music, as well as the dances of the Harlem Renaissance.
- He developed an innovative style of singing and scatting that drew inspiration from jazz, blues, and gospel music.
- Calloway’s performance style was characterized by his signature high-energy style and his ability to improvise and create unique musical arrangements.
- Calloway was also known for his ability to engage the audience and keep them entertained with his witty repartee and comic timing.
Calloway’s performance style has been credited as a major influence on modern performers, from jazz musicians to hip-hop artists. His unique approach to performing helped to shape the way we think about music today.
3. How did Cab Calloway’s career shape the music industry?
Cab Calloway was a prominent figure in the music industry, and his career had a lasting influence on the development of jazz and swing music. He was a talented bandleader, singer, and dancer, and his unique style made him an iconic figure in the jazz and swing scene. Here are some of the ways that Cab Calloway’s career shaped the music industry:
- Calloway’s pioneering style of jazz music and scat singing revolutionized the jazz scene of the 1930s and 1940s. His signature scat style of singing, combined with his energetic stage presence, was unlike anything the world had seen before. He was one of the first to popularize scat singing, and his influence can still be heard in jazz today.
- Calloway was also a prominent figure in the swing music scene. He was one of the first to popularize swing music, and he was a major influence on the development of big band and swing music. He was also a major influence on later swing musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie.
- Calloway’s bandleader style was also influential in the jazz and swing scene. He was known for his ability to lead and motivate his band, and his band was one of the most popular and successful of its time. He was also a major influence on later bandleaders such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
- Calloway’s influence on the music industry is still felt today. His music and style are still popular, and he is remembered as one of the most influential jazz and swing musicians of all time.
4. What are some of the most memorable Cab Calloway quotes?
Cab Calloway was an American jazz singer, dancer, and bandleader known for his energetic and flamboyant stage presence. His career spanned more than five decades, during which he was known for his witty and often humorous quotes. Here are some of the most memorable Cab Calloway quotes:
- “When it comes to music, I’m a perfectionist. I don’t take chances.”
- “A lot of people think they know the real me, but they don’t. I’m a mystery.”
- “If you don’t like jazz, you don’t like me.”
- “I’m not an entertainer. I’m an artist. I’m a musician.”
- “If you don’t have rhythm, you don’t have a soul.”
- “You can’t be successful unless you have a good band.”
- “I never knew anyone who didn’t like jazz.”
- “The only way to survive is to keep on swinging.”
- “You can’t beat good music.”
- “Music is the universal language.”
5. How did Cab Calloway influence jazz music?
Cab Calloway was an influential jazz musician and singer who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. His main contribution to jazz music was his unique vocal style, which blended elements of scat singing, ragtime, and blues. He was also an innovator in the use of improvisation and his improvisational solos were often considered the highlight of his performances.
Calloway’s influence on jazz music can be seen in a variety of ways:
- He was one of the first jazz musicians to combine scat singing with instrumental improvisation.
- He was one of the first musicians to use a “call and response” style in his singing, which has become a mainstay of modern jazz.
- He was known for using a unique “scat-rap” style of singing, which was a blend of scat singing and rap music.
- His improvisational solos were often considered the highlight of his performances.
- He was an innovator in the use of improvisation, which has become an essential part of modern jazz.
Calloway was one of the first jazz musicians to combine different musical styles and use improvisation, and his influence can still be heard in modern jazz today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cab Calloway was an iconic jazz singer, bandleader, and entertainer whose influence on jazz music is still felt today. His quotes demonstrate his love of music, his appreciation of the African American culture, and his wisdom that we can all learn from. Cab Calloway’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.
