Cab Calloway Vinyl Records

Cabell "Cab" Calloway was an American jazz singer, bandleader, and musician who became a popular entertainer in the 1930s and '40s. Born on December 25, 1907, in Rochester, New York, Calloway began his career as a jazz vocalist with the Savannah Syncopaters before forming his own band, Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, in the late 1920s. The band's unique blend of swing, blues, and vaudeville helped them become one of the most popular acts of the time, with hits like "Minnie the Moocher" and "Reefer Man."

Calloway was also a prolific songwriter, penning many of his band's hit songs, including the iconic "Jumpin' Jive." He appeared in several films, such as Stormy Weather (1943) and The Big Broadcast of 1938, and even had his own radio show. Calloway's charismatic stage presence, which included his signature "hi-de-ho" call-and-response routine with the audience, helped establish him as a beloved entertainer.

In addition to his work in music and entertainment, Calloway was also an entrepreneur and businessman. He owned several restaurants and nightclubs, including the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, where he performed regularly. Throughout his career, Calloway worked with some of the most influential musicians of the time, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong. Despite health issues and personal struggles later in life, Calloway continued to perform and record until his passing on November 18, 1994.