I absolutely love Cab Calloway. The last time I saw him perform he was double-billed with Laurie Anderson at the Limelight in NYC for New Year’s Eve! Yowzah Yowzah Yowzah!
I was fortunate enough to see Calloway perform live in Toronto at The Royal York, in the mid '80's. What a presence! What a voice! Such power: I shall never forget it.
Cab Calloway was a GREAT vocalist. Just look up some of his performances from the early 1930s and you will be blown away. George Gershwin wanted Cab for the role of Sportin' Life in the original 1935 production of his opera PORGY AND BESS, but Cab didn't want to take that amount of time away from his band. But, in 1950, he did record a PHENOMENAL version of "It Ain't Necessarily So" from it for RCA. ua-cam.com/video/0z8KbbiFTfM/v-deo.html He also finally played "Sportin' Life in a 1950s revival of the show.
i woulda made a youtube account JUST to comment but i used my friends he likes old music, but this man (cab calloway) proved to the world that art. can only get better with age
Yeah he was great. It amazes me that no one seems to worry about how scandalous this song would have been back in the old days. This is some pretty blasphemous stuff even by today's standards. Props to Cab and George Gershwin.
@@bernonstewart5439 As an example to parents everywhere and to save the world (from Himself); God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be tortured and killed, as a ritual blood sacrifice; to appease Himself, so that He could forgive us for the sin, He originally condemned us to in the 1st place. John 3: 16 That`s a big grain of salt; lol!
When you think the background of the opera in this song, there are jazz rebels who just drink and dance all day, so its normal for them to sing this song, generally opera composers have made stuff that standalone seems scandalous but when you considered the opera background it is normal
Pure Magic! Music at highest level. One of my favourite pieces written by George Gershwin. Normally i prefer Oscar Peterson's arrangement, but this is good too.
The original "Sportin' Life", along with William Warfield and Leontyne Price. What a show that must have been? What would you give to go back and sit in that audience?
That was great! I wish that someone would upload the soundtrack recording of Cab Calloway singing this song and others from the movie soundtrack of Porgy & Bess. Although "Sammy Davis Jr sung in the movie, due to contract obligations Cab Calloway was the singer in the soundtrack recording of that movie.
I have looked up about the opera and its main Characters. Sportin Life is just the coolest of them. Bess is in love with Crown who doesn't really love her. Porgy is in love with Bess who doesn't really love him. Sporting Life isn't in love with anyone. But he is the one wo takes the lady with him in the end.
On the Columbia Soundtrack to the movie "Porgy & Bess," Cab Calloway, was substituted for "Sportin-life's " sing on song which Sammy Davis Jr., performed in the movie; contractual obligations were cited. However, Cab's performances on the album were so good, I actually preferred Cab's version over Sammy's; and I'm a huge Sammy fan as well.
+Alfonso Alanzo Silliness - do you really believe that you might be sent to hell because you doubt that a man lived in a whale? Help! Think for yourself. God did not write the bible.
Due to contract conflicts, Sammy Davis Jr., who played "Sportin Life," in the film version of "Porgy & Bess," couldn't sign on the Columbia soundtrack album ;so Cab Calloway did Sammy's songs. I had the album, and I thought Cab's renditions of the songs had more depth and personality than Sammy's; and I love Sammy too!
His grandson, the inestimable Christopher Calloway Brooks, once told me that Cab's infusion of Cantorial "samples" and textures in his work was deliberate, that when Cab was a youth in Baltimore, he would stand outside synagogues on the High Holy Days and listen to the chazzan.
played this arrangement every nite with cab in early 80's...quite a character......
Wow. That's awesome. Will you share a story? I love music and music history. Thanks.
Steve Slagle ...hey there, Steve!
Wow!
Lucky man
Oh! "Ska-dee-waaaaaaaaa!"
god i'm surprised he could still sing just as well at this age.. this man was capable of so much godddd
What an under appreciated genius....
He just directed an entire orchestra while performing, like it was nothing. 🤯
Totally! It was like breathing, for him. What a mensch!
ahahaha this man wouldn't get old. He was great. Nice video! Thanks for sharing it!
I absolutely love Cab Calloway. The last time I saw him perform he was double-billed with Laurie Anderson at the Limelight in NYC for New Year’s Eve! Yowzah Yowzah Yowzah!
Yay Cab! Man wore the mantle of cool all his life.
Cab created the character. A great entertainer. Minnie the Moocher was my favorite!
The one and only Cab Calloway.
I was fortunate enough to see Calloway perform live in Toronto at The Royal York, in the mid '80's. What a presence! What a voice! Such power: I shall never forget it.
Cab Calloway was a GREAT vocalist. Just look up some of his performances from the early 1930s and you will be blown away. George Gershwin wanted Cab for the role of Sportin' Life in the original 1935 production of his opera PORGY AND BESS, but Cab didn't want to take that amount of time away from his band. But, in 1950, he did record a PHENOMENAL version of "It Ain't Necessarily So" from it for RCA. ua-cam.com/video/0z8KbbiFTfM/v-deo.html
He also finally played "Sportin' Life in a 1950s revival of the show.
He sang jazz like it was an Opera.
Technically, this is an opera aria (from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess).
The AMERICAN MASTER at His Best. Thanks CAB. Great posting.
Love how his scat goes klezmer - brilliant vocalist!
Yes, what a genius choice and so well executed.
he's from the generation that couldn't fake it--you had to be a really good singer to front a band.
i woulda made a youtube account JUST to comment
but i used my friends
he likes old music, but this man (cab calloway) proved to the world that art. can only get better with age
Damn he could put over a song. God bless Cab.
Wow. What an absolutely incredible human being 👌🏾👌🏾
Cab Calloway was a genius, hands down!
Genius!!!
don't forget that George Gershwin wrote the tune... another genius
Yeah he was great. It amazes me that no one seems to worry about how scandalous this song would have been back in the old days. This is some pretty blasphemous stuff even by today's standards. Props to Cab and George Gershwin.
Paul TheSkeptic ...and the Heyward family.
Well, nobody can prove he is lying because he isn`t, lol!
ua-cam.com/video/QPQPMCVz5fM/v-deo.html
Preach... take the gospel/or any religion with a grain of salt #Truth
@@bernonstewart5439
As an example to parents everywhere and to save the world (from Himself); God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be tortured and killed, as a ritual blood sacrifice; to appease Himself, so that He could forgive us for the sin, He originally condemned us to in the 1st place. John 3: 16
That`s a big grain of salt; lol!
When you think the background of the opera in this song, there are jazz rebels who just drink and dance all day, so its normal for them to sing this song, generally opera composers have made stuff that standalone seems scandalous but when you considered the opera background it is normal
I love my family. Go cuzzo Cab.
Wow!
Cab Calloway a genius! Great performance !
Pure Magic!
Music at highest level.
One of my favourite pieces written by George Gershwin.
Normally i prefer Oscar Peterson's arrangement, but this is good too.
THANKS for sharing!
Yes indeed, he's still got it. Just great.
great great great guy!!!! hats off to you buddy!
The original "Sportin' Life", along with William Warfield and Leontyne Price. What a show that must have been? What would you give to go back and sit in that audience?
I miss the greats, so nostalgic now as my music collection shows.
Thanks Mister Cab.
One of the greats. Love it!
Now THAT's scatting!
I'm on that AWESOME part of youtube again!
Good to see my friend again
You knew him?!
@@WeegeeFan1StudiosI was speaking figuratively. Sorry to disappoint you.
@@BartJansefditnp aww
I wish i could've met him but i wasnt around while he was alive
Cantante, musico, bailarin... genial Cab Calloway!!!
SOULJAHZ ROCKERZ
ASTONISHING
AMAZING!
he does a sweeet version of this song. ive heard a few singers do this song and they were not good. THIS is good. and he was ANCIENT at the time!
he was close to the orginal version.
When you stop groovin' on cab's artistry and listen to the voice ; he had quite a fine one.
That was great! I wish that someone would upload the soundtrack recording of Cab Calloway singing this song and others from the movie soundtrack of Porgy & Bess. Although "Sammy Davis Jr sung in the movie, due to contract obligations Cab Calloway was the singer in the soundtrack recording of that movie.
My vote goes to CC for Entertainer of the Twentieth Century.
I love it!!!!
Lovely
great!!!amazing!
I have looked up about the opera and its main Characters.
Sportin Life is just the coolest of them.
Bess is in love with Crown who doesn't really love her.
Porgy is in love with Bess who doesn't really love him.
Sporting Life isn't in love with anyone.
But he is the one wo takes the lady with him in the end.
Otro mas de los virtuosos en su estilo unico a su manera grandioso
I just wrote something similar! I agree, would love to hear the old Columbia Soundtrack recording with Cab's singing!
Entertainer he was
Why not? Nuns need to hear it.
I'm doin' a parody version of this tune, entitled
"It Is Most Probably Quite So,"
BUT needed to "Hear" the scat bit
.
Cab is The Tops
.
Huge!
WoW wish I was from , this generation
On the Columbia Soundtrack to the movie "Porgy & Bess," Cab Calloway, was substituted for "Sportin-life's " sing on song which Sammy Davis Jr., performed in the movie; contractual obligations were cited. However, Cab's performances on the album were so good, I actually preferred Cab's version over Sammy's; and I'm a huge Sammy fan as well.
- thanks -
: ))
Well, at the Final Judgment Seat we will see who was right, but OH MAN am I willing to wager my eternal soul over this???????
+Alfonso Alanzo Silliness - do you really believe that you might be sent to hell because you doubt that a man lived in a whale? Help! Think for yourself. God did not write the bible.
+Andrew McCullough But he gave the vision to these people who DID help create the bible.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_Wager
Being a pretty old geezer isn't necesserily a reason for Cab to stop here 🙃😉
Now you know where Morris Day got his act.
Anyone else think this song could be seamlessly remixed with "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch?"
What performance is this from? I would love to see more from this show!
Jason Greene jazz stars at Disneyland
Jason Greene bing bands at Disneyland cab calloway
The One The Only that’s crazy!
I put it up on my YT a few months ago in december 2022. Have fun watching. It's some of the best.
buenísimo
Great
what year is this from
Fuck yeah!!
Dear god what year was it when he did this?
1984. He was 77.
Scaptiwaaaa
What year was this Cab gig ?
1984.
Due to contract conflicts, Sammy Davis Jr., who played "Sportin Life," in the film version of "Porgy & Bess," couldn't sign on the Columbia soundtrack album ;so Cab Calloway did Sammy's songs. I had the album, and I thought Cab's renditions of the songs had more depth and personality than Sammy's; and I love Sammy too!
Cab, you don't talk to nuns that way. ;)
Hahahaha!!!! Funny!!!
a cantor, canting the jewish caballah
+Scott Graber I just learned about this: www.jewishjournal.com/judaismandscience/item/sportin_life_was_right_but_what_about_that_torah_tune
His grandson, the inestimable Christopher Calloway Brooks, once told me that Cab's infusion of Cantorial "samples" and textures in his work was deliberate, that when Cab was a youth in Baltimore, he would stand outside synagogues on the High Holy Days and listen to the chazzan.
LOL!!!
This song belongs to Cab Calloaway
:)
A preacher of sorts
Gershwin wrote Sporting Life's aria specially for Cab, not for Babber Miles
Jazz version
The version on the Nat King Cole variety show (~1958) was better. Can't find it on youTu.be but it was on BET.
I know I'm 2 years late, but... ua-cam.com/video/eqfnBiN8DaU/v-deo.html
is cab calloway still alive? you know like 120 or something?
That ain't necessarily so. :(
throatgorge2 he died November 18, 1994.R.i.p.
Alas, didn't make it to nine hundred years. But bet all the gals gave in.