Long before he became a jazz icon, Cab Calloway was a child of Rochester. Born on December 25, 1907, he spent his formative years in the Flower City before moving to Baltimore at age 11. Despite his early departure, Rochester remained a foundational chapter in his life story.
Cabell Calloway III was born into a family that valued education and the arts. His mother, Martha Eulalia Reed, was a teacher and church organist, and his father, Cabell Calloway Jr., had experience in law and real estate, though in Rochester he found work as a laborer and porter. The Calloways had two daughters, Blanche and Bernice, before moving to Rochester in 1905 with Cabell’s brother Harry. The exact reason for the move remains unclear, but some historians suggest it may have been due to the challenging real estate market in Baltimore at the time.
In Rochester, the Calloway family lived in several different residences, including 40 Cypress Street in 1907. City directories document the family’s frequent relocations, reflecting the challenges of establishing a stable livelihood in those years.
During his time in Rochester, young Cab was exposed to a vibrant musical environment. His mother’s role as a church organist meant that music filled the home, and it’s easy to imagine the boy listening closely to the sounds that would later shape his career. Rochester in the early 1900s was said to have been a city alive with vaudeville theaters, traveling bands, and church music. While there are no records of Cab performing in childhood, such a rich cultural backdrop would have offered the rhythms and energy that later shaped his signature style…