‘DNA TESTING WILL SOLVE ANY DEBATE ‘: He Died 30 Years Ago, Now Cab Calloway’s Family Confirm The Rumors | HO

Following Cab Calloway’s passing, his family members have recently spoke out to confirm some very surprising rumors about the star.

Cab Calloway, the iconic jazz legend and charismatic bandleader, continues to captivate audiences even decades after his death. Best known for his electrifying performances, especially with his famous “Hi-de-ho” catchphrase in Minnie the Moocher, Calloway’s legacy in jazz and popular music remains undeniable. However, behind the fame and music, Calloway led a life full of complexity, including salacious rumors and secrets that were hidden from the public for much of his life.

Now, 30 years after his passing, Calloway’s family has confirmed many of the rumors about his private life, shedding new light on the man behind the music. Who was the real Cab Calloway, beyond the stage persona that left a lasting mark on music history?

Cab Calloway, born Cabell Calloway III on December 25, 1907, in Rochester, New York, came from a well-educated African American family. His father, Cabell Calloway Jr., was a lawyer and real estate agent, while his mother, Martha Ulalia Reid, was a teacher and church organist. Calloway was one of four children, and although his parents were both professionals, they could not control his rebellious nature.

At the age of 11, Calloway’s family moved to Baltimore, where his father passed away, and his mother remarried. As a young boy, Cab developed a love for the hustler lifestyle, frequently skipping school to earn money by shining shoes, selling newspapers, and working at the racetrack. His mother disapproved of these antics, and when she caught him playing dice on church steps, she sent him to reform school in 1921.

After returning to Baltimore in 1922, Calloway worked as a caterer while still attending school. During his time at Frederick Douglass High School, Calloway received private vocal lessons, which helped cultivate his musical talents. Though his parents and teachers discouraged him from pursuing jazz music, Cab was determined to follow his passion.

After high school, Calloway moved to Chicago, where he began performing at nightclubs such as the Sunset Café. It was here that he befriended and was mentored by fellow jazz great Louis Armstrong, who taught him the art of scat singing—improvised melodies using nonsensical syllables. Despite his early studies in law at Crane College to please his mother, Calloway couldn’t resist the call of music and dropped out of law school in 1929 to join the Alabamians band in New York.

The band’s disbandment led to a new opportunity for Calloway to replace the singer in the music revue Connie’s Hot Chocolates. This was where Calloway’s reputation began to grow, especially with his performance of the famous song “Ain’t Misbehavin'”. Soon after, he became the bandleader of the Missourians, later renamed Cab Calloway and His Orchestra. In 1931, his orchestra was hired to perform at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club, where they became a permanent fixture, broadcasting live performances on NBC. It was at the Cotton Club that Calloway’s musical style—marked by energetic performances and scat singing—captivated audiences.

Calloway’s big break came with the 1931 release of Minnie the Moocher, a song that showcased his unique scat-singing style. The song became a massive hit, the first record by an African American to sell over a million copies. The “Hi-de-ho” chorus, which became Calloway’s signature phrase, left an indelible mark on pop culture, later influencing artists like James Brown and Michael Jackson.

The song was featured in several Betty Boop cartoons, making Calloway one of the first musicians to have his music integrated into animation. His career flourished in the following years, making him one of the most recognizable faces in jazz. Calloway performed in movies, toured globally, and was awarded numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. His influence can still be heard in the music of later jazz and pop artists.

Despite his fame, Calloway’s private life was a mystery to many. His family has since confirmed various rumors and previously hidden details about his relationships.

In 1927, Calloway had a child named K with a fellow law school student, Zelma Proctor. They were never married, and K later became one of the first African Americans to teach in a white school in Virginia. Calloway’s first marriage was to Winona Betty Coniker in 1928. The couple adopted a daughter named Constant, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1949.

That same year, Calloway married Z. Nuffy McNeel, with whom he had three daughters—Chris, Cecilia, and Cabella. The family lived in Long Beach, New York, before relocating to Westchester County in the 1950s. Calloway’s daughter Chris became a talented jazz singer in her own right and toured with her father’s band in the 1970s. She also appeared in Broadway productions and films. Chris tragically passed away in 2008 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Cab Calloway’s impact on music, film, and pop culture remains profound. He was more than just a jazz musician—he was an innovator, an entertainer who broke boundaries. His influence can be seen in the work of legendary performers like Michael Jackson, whose famous Moonwalk dance move was inspired by Calloway’s gliding backstep, and modern hip hop artists who have sampled his music and scat vocals.

Calloway’s legacy is also preserved in the ongoing recognition of his contributions. His hit “Minnie the Moocher” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2019. Even posthumously, Calloway’s work continues to be celebrated by generations of fans, and his name remains synonymous with the golden age of jazz.

While Cab Calloway is remembered as a dynamic and larger-than-life figure, the confirmation of these family stories gives us a deeper understanding of the man behind the persona. His dedication to his craft, his love for music, and his commitment to his family have ensured that Calloway’s influence will not fade. He may have passed away 30 years ago, but the spirit of his music—and the mysteries of his private life—continue to captivate the world today.

In the years since his passing, Calloway’s family has taken up the mantle of preserving his legacy, revealing the complexities and the truths of his life that were once hidden. His contribution to music, to jazz, and to American culture is undeniably lasting, and now, three decades after his death, the world is finally able to see him as more than just a figure in a tuxedo, but as the man who helped shape the course of music history.