Cab Calloway has in recent years seen a revival of interest. “Who is Cab Calloway?”- you may be asking if this trend has passed you by.
Cab Calloway was a famous American Jazz dancer, singer and bandleader during the 1930’s and 40’s. It truly was the era of jazz and dance. There was no social media, no apps and filters, so you HAD to be talented to make it big.
His most famous song is “Minnie the Moocher”. It is one of the tunes that he is now most remembered for, and he was known from this as the “Hi-de-ho” man. In the last few years, a resurgence in popularity of a musical film of his version of St. James Infirmary rotoscoped over his dancing for the spooky Betty Boop film “The Old Man of the Mountain”.
You can see how they made it here.
So why the sudden interest in Cab Calloway 80-plus years later?
Because he is incredible. As a singer, and dancer he has a level of showmanship which is rare to see in performers today, and seeing him as a bandleader to boot is impressive beyond measure. The man is talented and highly skilled. No shortcuts either.
Another video that you just have to see to believe also showcases the incredible dancing talents of the Nicholas Brothers. Fayard and Harold were a pair of “flashdancers” which was an acrobatic style of dance. They were spectacular jazz tap dancers as well.
There’s a sequence with the stairs that will blow you away!
The clip begins with Cab leading the big band.
They are unbelievable. Cab’s voice is amazing. He was the first African American singer to sell over a million copies of a single song, and you know that’s a big deal during his time!
He is a showman in the truest sense of the word. A true performer for the ages.
As they figuratively jump into a scat with Cab, they literally jump onto someone’s table to begin one of the most amazing dance routines of all time!
The Nicholas Brothers leap from table to table, tapping and dancing up an impossible storm!
Leaping among the band members seated around the tables, the brothers display an unprecedented level of skill and talent, which arguably (and some have argued) has never since been seen. They also say that it only took one take. Just wow.
But perhaps, the most remarkable thing about what these dancing brothers can do, is their acrobatic splits.
They leap many feet through the air as if defying gravity, performing splits down giant staircases much to the delight of their viewing audience.
Gregory Hines was quoted as saying that nobody would ever be able to dance like them again!
“If those folks in Hollywood ever do get it in their heads to make the life story of the Nicholas Brothers, the dance numbers would have to be computer-generated…It would be impossible to find two dancer/actors to play the two starring roles…There never was a dancer, tap or otherwise, who, upon seeing those ‘Nicholas Splits,’ didn’t question his or her very own eyes. Could it be? Did they really go down and come right back up sans hands?”- Gregory Hines
Watch the full video below and be amazed at the incredible talent in an era long gone!
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