Cab Calloway performing “The St. James Infirmary Blues” on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb 23, 1964
Cab Calloway performing "The St. James Infirmary Blues" on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb 23, 1964 from OldSchoolCool
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St James Infirmary Blues is an old folk song of undetermined origin. It is also known as “Gambler’s Blues”. It was made popular by Louis Armstrong in his release in 1928.
It is oft traced to a 18th-century folk song called “The Unfortunate Lad” (or The Unfortunate Rake) which was about a soldier who spent all his pay on prostitutes and dies of venereal diseases. This folk has little resemblance with Louis Armstrong’s version.
Cab Calloway covered his version for a Betty Boop animated feature Snow White in 1933 and also provided vocals and dance for Koko the Clown. This song has been covered numerous times by many artists including Hugh Laurie, The White Stripes, Artie Shaw, and more.
The first time I ever heard St James Infirmary, it was sung by Lilly Tomlin with music by the Saturday Night Live Band. All the band members were in nurses uniforms.
This guy saw it all.
This man knew cool.
Cab Calloway was a master! I still miss him.
God I love Cab Calloway.
The coolest of old school, right here
I first saw Cab when the Blues Brothers movie came out. I learned more about him as a music fan and when I took Jazz appreciation in college. Dude was the epitome of cool. He knew how to project to an audience and hold them.
People only typically remember things like Minnie the Moocher and don’t realize what a major talent he was. He had a spectacular voice.
I wonder what color(s) his tux was. Maybe blue and white? Shades of white and grey? Hmm
His music range is off the charts! What a wonderful performer he was.
I love this! I went to Cab Calloway School of the Arts for both middle and high school 🥰 Thanks for sharing!!!
This is a great song
Friggin’ awesome!
Loved him in the blues brothers.
He was pretty much always coked up.