Cab Calloway
Musician
1907 - 1994
Profession
ActorDancerMusicianSinger
Hometown
Rochester, NY
Overview
An instantly recognizable icon of the 1940s, bandleader Cab Calloway was known for energetic performances that infused jazz music with vaudeville’s theatrical entertainment. He led his orchestra in a long-running show at the Cotton Club and became known nationally on a syndicated radio show. Calloway appeared in many films, usually playing himself, like in Stormy Weather (1943), but also played dramatic roles, such as Yeller in The Cincinnati Kid (1965) and Sportin’ Life in a 1953 stage production of Porgy and Bess.
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About the Filmography
The selected filmography for the years 1897–1971 includes works featured in the exhibition and others that are considered historically, socially, or politically relevant. Hollywood productions are generally excluded; the focus is instead on independent films, particularly the work of Black filmmakers. Black Academy Award nominees and winners are noted. This filmography was compiled using the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and various filmographies, including those by Klotman, Richards, and Hyatt. Primary production materials and contemporaneous film reviews were also consulted. Complete credits for many of the films are unavailable. All films are US productions unless otherwise noted, and distribution credits refer to the original distributors.