Happy Birthday to Cab Calloway (December 25, 1907–November 18, 1994)
On Christmas Day 100 years ago, music legend, jazz singer, and band leader Cab Calloway was born.
Some of my favorite Cab Calloway related clips.
Fleischer Brothers' 1932 cartoon "Minnie the Moocher"
Fleischer Brothers' 1933 cartoon Betty Boop and the Old Man of the Mountain
Disney usually gets all the credit but the Fleischer brothers were very
innovative during their time. One technology they pioneered was
"rotoscoping" were they would film an actor and then animate over the
film to give the animated character a more natural human movement. You
can really see it here as the first half the old mans movements seem to
be done in the traditional way by the animator...the second half you can
really see that the body movement is almost exactly in synch with how
Cab Calloway would move. They used the same technology in the Minnie
the Moocher animation above with the Walrus Ghost dancing around.
The Blues Brothers Movie (1980) "Minnie the Moocher"
I love the part in the middle where he scats and the audience tries to repeat.
Squeezit the Moocher
From one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen....a young Danny
Elfman performing a very bizarre version of Minnie the Moocher from the movie
The Forbidden Zone. Warning...contains some nudity.
3 Comments
choggieYes, I grew up with Cab, 78's, compilations, etc. Forever manic, showman of the century-
Favorite songs:
Everyday's a Holiday
Tall, Tan, Terrific
Blue Serge Suit with a Belt in the Back
Kickin' the Gong Around
Two Blocks Down, Turn to the Left, on the Right Hand Side of the Street
choggieEvery Day's a Holiday (1965)-Clive Westlake wrote the lyrics, but Cab does the best version-
There are 4th of Julys in both of your eyes & a Easter Sunday too
'Cause every day is a holiday since the day that I found you
Each heaven on earth day is like a birthday, a May day rendezvous
'Cause every day is a holiday since the day that I found you
They ought to hang the flags out, they ought to close the bank
And though it's not November still I feel like giving thanks
You're a happy new year, a movie premiere, you're a Christmas present too
'Cause every day is a holiday since the day that I found you
choggieBlue Serge Suit with a Belt in the Back
He isn’t hep to jive, he’s only half alive
Hep cats call him square
You won’t believe this jack
All his clothes date back
To ’29 I swear
He wears a blue serge suit with a belt in the back
No drape, no shape, just a belt in the back
Strictly corn and he’s off the cob
Wears a pocket watch with a pearly fob
He’d be just as sharp in a sack
As in the blue serge suit with the belt in the back
He isn’t old and grey but he’s so passé
Swing bands make him frown
He don’t get no kicks
From boogie-woogie licks
Oh he’s dead but he won’t lay down
He wears a blue serge suit with a belt in the back
No flare, so rare, just a belt in the back
He thinks a cat is a household pet
His favorite dance is the minuet
Maybe one day he’s gonna crack
And burn that blue serge suit with the belt in the back
He’s got a gal named “V”, she’s twice as square as he
What a gruesome pair
The way they fuss and frown
When gators strut on down
Is more than I can bear
He wears a blue serge suit with a belt in the back
A pip, a zip, a belt in the back
He wears high shoes and a pair of spats
If you dig that junk it’ll drive you bats
Maybe some day he’s gonna crack
And burn that blue serge suit with the belt in the back
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