After 30 years, Cab Calloway’s Family Confirm The Rumors! | HO!!

NEW YORK, NY — For decades, Cab Calloway was more than just a jazz icon—he was a cultural phenomenon. With his infectious energy, wild dance moves, and signature “Hi-De-Ho,” Calloway thrilled audiences from Harlem’s Cotton Club to the silver screen. But behind the scenes, the legendary bandleader kept significant—and sometimes scandalous—details of his personal life hidden from public view.

Now, nearly thirty years after his death, the Calloway family has confirmed long-standing rumors that have swirled around the jazz legend for generations. The real Cab Calloway, it turns out, is more complex and fascinating than anyone ever imagined.

Early Life: From Baltimore’s Streets to the Spotlight

Born Cabell Calloway III on Christmas Day, 1907, in Rochester, New York, Cab grew up in a middle-class African-American family. His father, Cabell Calloway Jr., was a lawyer and real estate agent, while his mother, Martha Eulalia Reed, was a teacher and church organist. The family moved to Baltimore in 1919, where Cab’s childhood was shaped by both hardship and opportunity.

After his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage, Cab spent his formative years in West Baltimore’s Druid Hill neighborhood. He skipped school to shine shoes, sell newspapers, and cool down horses at the Pimlico racetrack—experiences that sparked his lifelong love of horse racing and betting.

When his mother caught him playing dice on church steps, she sent him to a reform school run by her uncle. Cab returned to Baltimore in 1922, continuing to work odd jobs while attending Frederick Douglass High School.

Despite his parents’ and teachers’ disapproval, Cab was drawn to music, especially jazz. He performed with Ike Dixon’s band at school dances, played in juke joints and clubs, and was mentored by local legends like drummer Chick Webb and pianist Johnny Jones. During high school, he also played basketball, eventually joining the Baltimore Athenians in the Negro Professional Basketball League. In 1925, Cab graduated, ready to pursue his passion for performance.

Early Career: Jazz, Law School, and the Road to Stardom

After graduation, Calloway began performing in Baltimore nightclubs. Inspired by his mentors, he ignored the advice of his parents and teachers to pursue jazz. In 1927, he joined his older sister Blanche Calloway—herself a groundbreaking bandleader—on tour with the black musical revue Plantation Days. Blanche’s success and the encouragement of study partner Ruth Macabe deepened Cab’s love for show business.

To appease his mother, Cab enrolled at Crane College to study law. But his passion for music was unstoppable. He spent nights singing and drumming at Chicago clubs like the Sunset Cafe and Club Berlin, often performing with Louis Armstrong, who taught him the art of scat singing. In 1929, Calloway dropped out of law school to join the Alabamians band in New York, making his debut at the Savoy Ballroom. Although the band soon broke up, Cab’s talent as a bandleader was undeniable.

Louis Armstrong recommended Cab as a replacement singer in the musical revue Connie’s Hot Chocolates, where he wowed audiences with his rendition of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Soon after, Cab was asked to lead The Missourians, a band that would become Cab Calloway and His Orchestra. This opportunity set the stage for his meteoric rise.

Career Achievements: The Hi-De-Ho Man Takes Over Harlem

In 1931, Cab Calloway and His Orchestra were hired to play at Harlem’s Cotton Club, filling in for Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Their popularity soared, earning them a permanent spot and launching Cab’s journey to stardom. He performed twice a week for NBC radio broadcasts and appeared on shows with Walter Winchell and Bing Crosby, becoming the first African-American to host a nationally syndicated radio show at just 23.

That same year, Calloway recorded “Minnie the Moocher,” a song that showcased his unique scat singing. The single became the first by an African-American artist to sell a million copies, and its improvised “Hi-De-Ho” chorus made Cab a household name. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2019.

Calloway’s energetic performances—complete with white-tailed tuxedos, oversized batons, and wild hair flips—delighted audiences. His orchestra featured future legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, and Milt Hinton, and the band’s camaraderie extended to forming baseball and basketball teams that played charity games on tour.

Cab’s influence extended beyond music. In 1938, he published “Cab Calloway’s Cat-ologue: A Hepster’s Dictionary,” the first dictionary written and published by an African-American. He charted Billboard hits in five consecutive decades and starred in films like “Stormy Weather,” “The Cincinnati Kid,” and “The Blues Brothers,” where his performance of “Minnie the Moocher” became iconic.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton awarded Calloway the National Medal of Arts, honoring his contributions to American culture.

Family and Personal Life: Triumphs and Scandals

Calloway’s personal life was as colorful as his career. In January 1927, while in law school, he fathered a daughter, Camay, with fellow student Zelma Proctor. Camay became one of the first African-Americans to teach in a white school in Virginia. In 1928, Cab married his first wife, Winona Betty Coniker, with whom he adopted a daughter, Constance. The marriage ended in divorce in 1949.

Later that year, Cab married Zulme “Nuffie” McNeill, and together they had three daughters: Chris, Cecilia, and Cabella. The family settled in Westchester County, New York, where Cab lived until his death. Chris Calloway followed in her father’s footsteps, performing with his orchestra and starring in Broadway productions like “Hello, Dolly!” and “The Pajama Game.”

Chris Calloway died of breast cancer in 2008, leaving behind a legacy as a respected jazz singer and actress. At the time, records showed Cab had five children, but rumors of a secret child persisted.

The Ja’Net DuBois Revelation: A Family Secret Unveiled

In February 2020, the world mourned the passing of actress and singer Ja’Net DuBois, best known for her role as Willona Woods on “Good Times” and for co-writing and singing the theme for “The Jeffersons.” DuBois was notoriously private, and even her birth year was disputed—she claimed 1945, but records suggested 1932 or 1938.

DuBois’ death certificate, released by the Los Angeles County Public Health Office, stunned the public. It listed her name as Janette T. Calloway DuBois, indicating she was the daughter of Cab Calloway, who had died 26 years earlier. The certificate also revealed she was born in 1932, not 1945, making her 88 at the time of her death.

For years, media reports had identified DuBois as the daughter of Lillian Gouedy and Gordon DuBois, but the death certificate told a different story. Journalists scrambled to uncover the truth, and DuBois’ daughter eventually confirmed in an interview that Ja’Net was indeed the child of Lillian and Cab Calloway.

This revelation suggested that Lillian may have had a relationship with Cab while he was married. In 1928, Lillian worked at a sweater factory, around the time Cab was rising to fame. Two years after Ja’Net’s birth, Lillian married Gordon DuBois, who became Ja’Net’s stepfather.

The news added a new layer of mystery to Cab Calloway’s legacy. With all parties deceased, the full story may never be known. Cab’s estate issued a statement expressing admiration for DuBois’ career but clarifying they were unaware of any biological connection. They noted that the death certificate contained errors and lacked proper verification.

Legacy: The Hi-De-Ho Man’s Enduring Influence

Cab Calloway died in November 1994 at age 86, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008, and “Minnie the Moocher” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. His home films were selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2022.

Calloway’s influence spans generations, impacting artists from James Brown and Michael Jackson to modern hip-hop performers. He was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame and the International Jazz Hall of Fame, among many other honors.

Journalist Timothy White wrote in Billboard, “No living pathfinder in American popular music or its jazz and rock and roll capillaries is so frequently emulated yet so seldom acknowledged as Cabell ‘Cab’ Calloway. He arguably did more things first and better than any other band leader of his generation.”

Conclusion: The Real Cab Calloway

After thirty years, the Calloway family’s confirmation of the rumors surrounding Cab’s personal life has brought new understanding to the man behind the legend. Cab Calloway was not only a pioneering entertainer but also a complex figure whose life was marked by triumphs, scandals, and secrets. The revelation of Ja’Net DuBois as his daughter adds a fascinating chapter to his story, reminding us that the legacies of our cultural icons are often richer—and more surprising—than we ever imagined.

For fans and historians alike, the real Cab Calloway is a testament to the enduring power of music, family, and the human spirit.