Singing Guide: Cab Calloway
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Cab Calloway is an iconic jazz singer, songwriter, and bandleader who gained fame in the 1930s and 1940s with his colorful theatrical performances and unique singing style. His music was a blend of jazz, swing, scat singing, and big band, which were accompanied by his trademark big band orchestra. Cab Calloway's high energy performances were celebrated for their unique use of humor and choreography, which made him one of the most influential and original musicians of his time.
To learn to sing like Cab Calloway, you will need to pay close attention to his unique vocal techniques and style. One of the most distinctive features of his style was the use of scat singing, where words were substituted by improvised sounds made by the voice. Listening to his popular songs like "Minnie the Moocher" and "Mama Don't Allow It" will help in observing and understanding his scatting style.
To sing like Cab Calloway, you should strengthen your breath control to achieve his unique vocal vibrato rhythm and his signature growls. Practicing vocal exercises, breathing techniques, and warm-up exercises will help you improve breath control, pitch accuracy, and tone quality. Singing Carrots' vocal range test and pitch accuracy test can help you identify areas where you need improvement.
It is also essential to understand the different voice registers and how to transition smoothly from one register to another to achieve Calloway's unique range and energy. Singing Carrots' article on Voice Registers and Vocal Break is an excellent reference for learning about the different registers of the voice.
Improving articulation and enunciation is also essential in achieving Calloway's singing style. Singing Carrots' article on Articulation can help you improve your diction.
Additionally, there are practical tips that can help you while learning to sing like Cab Calloway. Maintaining good posture and breathing, using your diaphragm, and keeping your throat relaxed are all critical in achieving the same level of energy as Calloway.
In conclusion, to learn to sing like Cab Calloway, you need to study his unique singing style, focus on scat singing, work on breath control, and learn vocal techniques like growls. With training from Singing Carrots' educational singing course and the resources provided, it is achievable.