Cab Calloway
Orchestra at Chandler

The Cab Calloway Orchestra is coming to Randolph's Chandler Music Hall Friday, March 28 at 7:30 in a special concert that celebrates the centennial birthdays of both Cab Calloway and Chandler Music Hall.

Throw on your zoot suit and get ready to sing those "Hi De Ho’s" with Minnie the Moocher! The Cab Calloway Orchestra is coming to Randolph’s Chandler Music Hall Friday, March 28 at 7:30 in a special concert that celebrates the centennial birthdays of both Cab Calloway and Chandler Music Hall.

Audience members will be transported back to the golden age at the Cotton Club when Cab Calloway himself made Harlem the hot spot of New York City nightlife. Calloway, the legendary "Hi De Ho" man, was an energetic showman, gifted singer, talented actor and trend-setting fashion plate. A truly larger-than-life figure in American pop culture, immortalized in cartoons and caricatures, Calloway led one of the greatest bands of the swing era.

Now under the direction of Calloway’s grandson, C. Calloway Brooks, the Cab Calloway Orchestra has earned rave reviews that live up to its famous name. Shiny instruments all in a row, red-hot lyrics, silky smooth ensemble work and spicy brass harmonies continue to be the orchestra’s trademarks. Signature favorites include "Minnie the Moocher (Hi-De-Ho)," "Stormy Weather," "It Ain’t Necessarily So," and "Geechie Joe." Using the Calloway band’s original vintage orchestrations as a point of departure, coupled with the talented musicians who have played with the big band for decades, the Cab Calloway Orchestra brings Harlem jazz to life.

In 1930, the Cotton Club emerged as a hip new club in Harlem known for its lavish stage shows and extraordinary musicians like Duke Ellington. Calloway’s singing and showmanship captured the attention of the club’s owner, and his band was hired to replace Ellington’s band.

In 1931, Calloway and his manager, Irvin Mills, put together a song that he would forever be identified with: "Minnie the Moocher." The song sold over one million copies and the band soon shattered every existing record for all-black band audiences. The song’s success and a steady gig at the Cotton Club, had Calloway’s big band in constant demand. The group toured frequently, and after encountering racially-charged situations, Calloway used profits from the Cotton Club and the sale of "Minnie the Moocher" to travel in style by chartered train.

By the late 1930s, the band was one of the top grossing acts in jazz and had become a training ground for such young talents as Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, Cozy Cole and Chuck Berry. However, by the late ’40s, Calloway’s bad financial decisions and his gambling habit caught up with him and the band broke up.

Calloway regrouped and went back to playing small clubs and eventually landed a part in Porgy and Bess on Broadway as the character Sportin’ Life, a role Calloway would claim Gershwin based on him. The show was a huge success and breathed new life into his career. Calloway’s scat singing, dancing, huge personality and flashy style had made him a star and a successful recording artist. He continued to perform right up until his death in 1994 at the age of 88.

Calloway passed on his love of music to his grandson. C. Calloway Brooks started playing guitar at age seven, won his first musical awards when he was nine, and went on to graduate from the New England Conservatory of Music. He credits the many years of experience with his grandfather as the cornerstone of his musical education. His stage experience has included performances with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton Orchestras, and musicians such as Cyrus Chestnut, Kenny Burell, and Rufus Reid. Brooks assumed leadership of The Cab Calloway Orchestra in 1998, and has performed in venues worldwide, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and the Rome Opera House.

He says he remains committed to continuing his grandfather’s legacy, rather than creating his own, because, "It’s an incredibly satisfying thing to do. It's a very, very important piece of American heritage. I really feel as though my granddad, more than anybody else, epitomized the essence of the American spirit at the time."

For tickets call the Chandler box office weekdays between 3-6 p.m. or by email at tickets@chandler-arts.org.

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