Cab Calloway (1907-1994) was a U.S. singer, composer, and bandleader. Calloway was born on 25th December 1907 to a middle-class family in Rochester, New York, and lived there until 1918. He later lived in Baltimore, Maryland. ...show more

Cab Calloway (1907-1994) was a U.S. singer, composer, and bandleader. Calloway was born on 25th December 1907 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. ...show less