One of the biggest thrills I had as a child in the mid 1950's was seeing Cab Calloway perform live. And of course, he sang "Minnie the Moocher". Now in my 70's, I've never forgotten it.
HOW DARE YOU TEASE A FELLOW ! ha ha I'd LOVE to go back in time he's one of my 3 favorites from the era ! Let's not forget Fats Waller and Louis Jordan though !!!
I've always had the impression that the 50s and 60s were a great time to be alive. My Grandfathers both served in WWII, lived to tell war stories, you're my Dad's age. Six bucks filled up a land yacht and you went cruising.
@@Izzykaleidoscope641 - Actually, I was born in the late 1940's. I remember watching Flash Gordon serials at the movie theater. CocaCola was 5 cents a bottle. I vividly remember tipping over in my highchair when I was still in diapers. We moved out of that house when I was 4 years old. I haven't been back since, but I still remember the floor plan of that house. Some of us old geezers are still mentally sharp. 😉
Like many kids of my generation, growing up in the 70's, my introduction to Cab Calloway was in the Blues Brothers movie. I didn't know who he was at first, but I knew I was watching something special when he was on screen. What a legend.
One of my favourite director moments is this story from John Landis. The instruction of "you're Cab Calloway" being all that was needed: "He did it once, and it was OK," says Landis. When the director requests another take, Calloway asks "Why?" "Because it wasn't good," says Landis, "and you're Cab Calloway, so it has to be GREAT." "Oh," says Calloway, "you wanted GREAT? Why didn't you say so?!!" Calloway records the version we hear in "The Blues Brothers." It is indeed great.
I love how erratic yet smooth his movements are at the same time. It's a mesmerizing combination. The long coattail only serves to exaggerate his movements. He's honed this to a T. A true entertainer working his craft.
Now that's just what I wanted to say! :-) I don't know what it is but when one has "The Entertainer Gene" so to speak you see or hear or feel it immediately. I want to say that it comes from practicing ones craft long enough but I'm somehow sure this is not what it is at all. You also got to L O V E yourself and what you do. What a pleasure to watch Cab! Had the pleasure to watch Johnny "Guitar" Watson.That was in the 90s, back when the Frog had Hair...:-) Incredible Performance. Not a lot of dancing though.
My parents took me to see and hear him at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, N. Y. when I was 8 or 9. I am now 88. It is a treat to watch him again on RU-vid.
I saw The Blues Brothers film (original) in 1980, and became a fan of Mr. Calloway. Of course as a result of his performance of this song. RIP sir, and thank you.
I mean singers will challenger a trumpet for length or a guitar for flow, but who challenges a BASSOON for BASS?!?!?! The one and ONLY Cab Calloway that's who!
Isn't the song about a girl who got into opium due to her coke-addict boyfriend, and who now makes a living from prostitution and mooching off others (opium addiction doesn't exactly make you a productive, honest member of society...), vainly dreaming of luxuries?
@@bastobasto4866 Some have suggested that the story is of her hallucinations from consuming opium, consumption that eventually leads to her death by overdose, hence the "poor Min" ending.
I saw cab calloway in 1977 do a one-man show. I have been a fan now since that childhood visit. I absolutely love him. I may have grown up in the wrong era. I think I was supposed to be born in the 1940's
@gregorysnapplecock8163all of the old music from back in the day are better than today's music their is still some good music today but it doesn't compare to the music from back in the day.
I got Cab's autograph when I was a kid in the early 80's at Belmont Racetrack.. Obviously had no clue who he was until The Blues Brothers came out and then he was instantly recognizable. My friend and I couldn't have been more than 11-12yrs old. I often wondered what he thought about two little white kids running up to him all excited and stuff asking for his autograph. Hope it made him feel good because we were both over the moon with scoring a Blues Brother autograph!! I still have it to this day. He signed the daily racing program. It brought us luck too as my friend and I placed a bet, thru his father and won a tri-fecta bet!!!! I used that money to by a top of the line Boogie Board a few days later!! Caught some sweet waves with that thing!! Thanks Cab!!!
I had the honour of seeing Cab perform at the Barbican Theatre in London in the mid / late 1980's. He was obviously pretty old at this point but still had a few 'moves' and the audience had massive respect for him. When he finally let rip with 'Minnie the Moocher' the response was so loud it damn near blew the roof off the building. God bless you Cab, you were one hell of a performer and gave me a night I'll remember always and I can honestly say "Yes, I saw Cab Calloway" !!!!!
@@lawrencelewis2592 Yes, it was. God bless Cab - what a great night it was, and to think that prior to the movie 'The Blues Brothers' I'd never really heard of him. Also, due to that movie, plus working at the time as security at the Hammersmith Odeon (now Apollo) I also got to see John Lee Hooker a few times, as well as James Brown too. Ah, great days indeed!
@@ericwilliams2317 Great stuff!I'm still kicking myself in the ass for passing up a chance to see Count Basie 6 months before he died. However there is a great band here in Toronto called Martin Loomer and the Orange Devils who play every month in a great pub. June was the all-Basie show. Look up Martin Loomer on YT, you will love them!
@@scarygary-qq1pj Okay, I'll bite - tell me who else you're thinking of, and I'll tell you truthfully if I agree. Surprise me if you can! I look forward to hearing your favourite joyful icon 😘
The Legendary Cab Callaway in his Earliest years hard to comprehend he would live to 87 in 1994 when he passed away 🎶🥁🎹🎺🎸🎷Love Minnie the Moocher 😂😂😂😂😂❤Take me back even though I was born in 1973 back to these times when he was doing iconic tunes like this ,Only one Cab Callaway,No one can beat his talent ❤❤❤
I feel like you would've learned who he is much later in life by happenstance. He's a living legend, beyond the Blues Brothers. That said, BB was the first time I heard Minnie the Moocher.
So debonair...so smooth. Much love, sir! I new of him from a WB cartoon parody but didn't realize it. But yes, my first real intro was Blues Brother's and I so appreciated them including him. Thank you so much.
I only knew this reat Man from the Movie "The Blues Brothers"! He was so good as the Foster Father of Jake and Elwood aka Day Aykroyd and John Belushi!
Seriously though; How could you - or anyone else who had the opportunity to experience it - ever forget? I should be so fortunate that, in *_my_* time, we had Freddie Mercury! That level of larger-than-life personality (and the voice to match) comes only once every generation-and-a-half. if you're LUCKY!
We owe Mr. Calloway a lot. It was Cab who told Nat King Cole to enunciate. Cole would have never been the star as a singer that became had he not taking Cab Calloway's advice.
What a class act… sure do miss the old days…how things have changed…😢but.. I suppose every generation feels the same of their own…. Just sayin …. LOVE ❤️ THE OLD DAYS
Just what sucked about the 1930s was the Great Depression then World War 2 later on! And I miss the later modern days before 2019 ended which was our last stop I believe!
Yeah... Crazy shameful times.... Maybe that sorta hardship made him, and other p.o.c strive to be, and become outstanding musicians, singers and performance artists
I saw him perform in a free concert about 1992/93 in Miami I was wandering around came across it. Brilliant time a great afternoon he was wheeled on the stage if I remember right.
i've heard so many insane stories about Cab Calloway being completely unhinged. he was famous for being a violent guy and supposedly one time he beat the brakes off his trombone player because the bone player threw a spitball at cab calloway. he was so good at putting on a show though, he just kind of always got away with being insane
Das kommt doch auch in einen Film vor ,fast die selbe Szene.Kann das jemand Aufklären??? War das bei Blues Brothers nicht auch dieser Groove dabei?Das ist aber nicht die Antwort über das Lied evtl,! Woher ist die Szene????Help.....
Derselbe Song kommt auch in dem Film "The Blues Brothers" vor Andreas Fiss! Allerdings wird Cab Calloway in dem Film von der Band der Brüder dabei unterstützt! Und ja die Moves in dem Film sind dieselben!
He was good friends with Bumpy Johnson, the original Harlem gangster, so I am sure he had access to all kinds of fun substances. He was also known to associate with Redd Foxx and Malcolm X. Regarding psychedelics, I am not certain if Cab partook, but he definitely was a fan of the white lady (cocaine). In fact, one of the lyrics to "Minnie the Moocher" goes as follows: She hung around with a bloke named Smokey She loved him though he was cokey.
I've just noticed..... Where's the vocal mike????? Above out of veiw???? Or not required because Cab's vocals are naturally way in the red zone... Astounding
They skipped two verses in the middle of the song! They just went from the first to the last verse, and so the whole thing doesn't make sense. Still great footage.
Brothers moving really did this justice. Both spot on perfect. Btw 2:22 one of the earliest televised memes/trolls haha, this man's a genius even post mortem.
This the first time i Heard this rendition. The first time I heard this song was from the Blues Brothers. For me the Blues Brothers rendition is Better..... BUT anytime you hear Cab sing this IT'S CLASSIC.....
02:14 gives me Dangerously in Love vibes, did Bey pay homage to this? Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love (GRAMMYs on CBS) 03:59 is this! please tell me I'm not alone in hearing this !
I learned about Mr. Calloway thanks to The Blue Brothers movie. He was an amazing talent that transcended race and culture. He was just pure, fun entertainment. We need that kind of talent today, instead of the slime on the music scene.
