Cabell Calloway III was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor, and dancer who lived from December 25, 1907, until November 18, 1994. He was connected to the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he frequently performed and rose to fame as a swing-era vocalist. Throughout a career that lasted over 65 years, his specialty of fusing jazz and vaudeville brought him praise.

From the early 1930s through the late 1940s, Calloway, a master of vivacious scat singing, was the leader of one of the most well-known dance orchestras in the United States.

Dizzy Gillespie, Jonah Jones, and Adolphus “Doc” Cheatham on trumpets, Ben Webster and Leon “Chu” Berry on saxophones, Danny Barker on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass, and Cozy Cole on drums made up his ensemble.

Table of Content

Cab Calloway family, wives, children, parents, siblings

Calloway wed Wenonah “Betty” Conacher as his first wife in July 1928. One of the first African Americans to teach at a white school in Virginia was his daughter. On October 7, 1949, Calloway wed Zulme “Nuffie” MacNeal. He and Nuffield raised their three daughters in Westchester County, New York.

Cab Wives

The singer was reported to marry his first wife Wenonah, also called Betty, in July 1928. The couple according to sources adopted a child called Constance and reportedly divorced in 1949.

After his divorce in 1949, Cab married Zulme who was also called Nuffie on 7th October 1928 and they reportedly had four children together.

Cab’s Children

According to online sources, Cab has four children. One child whom he adopted with his first wife, Betty, and three other children he had with his second wife Nuffie.

The children are; Chris Calloway (1945–2008),  Cecilia “Lael” Eulalia Calloway, Cabella Calloway (b. 1952), and Constance ( Adopted).

Cab Parents

According to reports, the singer is the second child of Cabell and Eulalia Reed Calloway. Cab’s father was known to be a law practitioner and also in the real estate business.

Siblings

Cab was reported to be the second child among six siblings. details about his other five siblings are not public, but he has five siblings according to reports