Blanche Calloway - It's Right Here For You (1931)

Blanche Calloway (1902-1978)

was bandleader Cab Calloway's older sister. Cab and Blanche never recorded together. She had a very good way of entertaining. She was wild and wiry in certain things and very sensitive in others ......Although Cab may not say this to himself, all of his style was from her. His sister taught him everything he knew about performing.

Blanche studied music at Morgan State College, but dropped out and began performing in local various local clubs. In 1923, she joined the touring cast of the Noble Sissle - Eubie Blake musical "Shuffle Along". She later appeared in James P. Johnson's show "Plantation Days". In 1927, the show closed and she stayed in Chicago, working in various clubs.

In 1925, one of her very earliest recordings was singing with Louis Armstrong. She toured extensively and even worked New York City's exclusive 'Ciro Club'. In 1931, she and Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy Orchestra were headliners in Philadelphia's Pearl Theatre.

"Puddin Head" lured six men (including Ben Webster) from Jap Allen's then new Kansas City band to join him and Blanche, with local New York musicians filling the remaining chairs in a band they called "Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys". She was the first black woman to front an all-male orchestra.

Blanche Calloway And Her Joy Boys - It's Right Here For You (1931) Victor 22717

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blanche
• Calloway
• Cab
• 1931
• 30's

[mizfilm87]

she's also the first black female bandleader lead an all-men band. that takes gus.

[zeelove8]

yes she surely is lovely, i didnt know he had a talented older sis, thanks for the post:D

[meimeiswan]

THank you for posting this info. never heard of this artist before!

[UkuleleIgor]

Great stuff!!!

[shieldsnatalie]

She kinda looks like Alicia Keys

[wavesnearmyhome]

I'm glad I found this great song on youtube.

[VMaque]

i cant believe what i just heard about this woman. she was the reason her brother got into show biz. it's so sad that there's not any footage of her, and she was overshadowed.

[Bumblebee38]

Possibly RQ Dickerson tpt , William Blue clarinet , Earres Prince piano ????

[newclarence]

Looks like her brother too. Hmm, did anybody ever see them both in the same place at the same time?

[dal4018]

zlove she had a talented brother maybe you heard of him in your life Cab Calloway

[dal4018]

Hey Ace think a movie a should be made about this woman who do you think should get the leading role me personally I think Tia or Tamera Mowry should get first dibs at this if someone made the flick.

[anotherelena]

God, this song is so amazingly vibrant, it makes life in that time sound so glamorous in a red silk/black hair/ cigarettes/ saxophoney way. I wish I were alive back then and see it all happen.