Blanche Calloway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanche Calloway
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway |
| Born | February 9, 1902 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 16, 1978 (aged 76) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, bandleader |
Blanche Dorothea Jones Calloway (born February 9, 1902 – died December 16, 1978) was an American jazz singer and bandleader. She was the older sister of famous musician Cab Calloway. Blanche was a successful singer even before her brother became well-known.
Her music career lasted for over fifty years. Blanche Calloway was the first woman to lead an all-male orchestra. She performed with many great musicians like Cozy Cole and Chick Webb. People described her performing style as lively and exciting. She greatly influenced her brother Cab's stage presence.
Contents
Early Life and Music Dreams
Blanche Calloway was born in Rochester, New York. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. Her father was a lawyer, and her mother was a music teacher. Her mother taught Blanche and her siblings to play piano and sing.
Even though her mother wanted her to have a "respectable" job like a teacher, Blanche dreamed of a music career. She was inspired by singers like Florence Mills and Ida Cox. In the early 1920s, Blanche left Morgan College to follow her dream of becoming a professional musician.
Starting Her Music Career
Blanche Calloway began singing in church choirs in Baltimore. By 1921, she started touring with professional music groups. She first appeared as a chorus girl and then became a featured singer.
Her big break came in 1923 when she joined the national tour of a show called Plantation Days. This show featured her idol, Florence Mills. After the show ended in Chicago in 1927, Blanche decided to stay there. Chicago was a major center for jazz music at the time.
She became very popular in Chicago, often performing at the Sunset Cafe. Her brother Cab Calloway also worked there later. Blanche actually earned more money than Cab at this time, showing how successful she was. In 1925, she recorded her first songs with famous musicians like Louis Armstrong. These recordings were the start of her own band, the Joy Boys.
Leading Her Own Band
Blanche Calloway performed with her brother's band for a short time. She also worked with Andy Kirk's orchestra, the Clouds of Joy, in 1931. During this time, she recorded her well-known song, "I Need Lovin'".
Later, Blanche formed her own big band called Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys. This was a very important step because it made her the first woman to lead an all-male jazz orchestra. Famous musicians like Ben Webster and Cozy Cole played in her band.
Her band recorded several songs in the early 1930s. They performed often in New York City at famous places like the Lafayette Theatre and the Apollo Theatre. In 1933, a newspaper called her orchestra one of the top ten African American orchestras. Blanche also wrote many songs for her group, including "Rhythm of the River".
Challenges in Her Career
Blanche Calloway faced many challenges in the music industry. It was a time when society was racially segregated, and the music world was mostly led by men. As an African American performer, she often had to play for audiences that were separated by race.
Her lively and bold performing style was unique. However, it sometimes went against what people expected from a female performer. By the mid-1930s, as her brother Cab's career grew, Blanche found it harder to get bookings for her own band.
Influence on Cab Calloway
Blanche Calloway had a huge impact on her brother Cab's career and his performance style. She was very energetic and dramatic on stage. She taught Cab a lot about performing, and they sometimes performed together.
Blanche even helped Cab get his first stage role in Plantation Days. Many people believe she influenced Cab's famous "Hi De Ho" chant from his song "Minnie the Moocher". Blanche had a song called "Just a Crazy Song" from 1931 where she sang "Hi Hi Hi, Ho De Ho De Ho." It seems they often shared ideas and borrowed from each other's music.
Later Life and Achievements
After facing difficulties, Blanche Calloway stopped leading her orchestra in 1938. She tried forming an all-women orchestra in 1940, which was popular during World War II, but it didn't last long.
In the 1950s, Blanche moved to Washington, D.C., and managed a nightclub called Crystal Caverns. She helped singer Ruth Brown get her start and sign with Atlantic Records.
Later, Blanche moved to Florida and became a disc jockey for a radio station. She eventually became the program director for 20 years. In Florida, she made history as the first African American precinct voting clerk and the first African American woman to vote in Florida in 1958. She was also very active in civil rights groups like the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality.
Blanche Calloway passed away on December 16, 1978, at the age of 76. She was a true pioneer in music and a strong advocate for civil rights.
Images for kids
-
Blanche Calloway
