For decades, Cab Calloway was the king of cool. With his electrifying performances, zoot suits, and the unforgettable “Hi-De-Ho,” he captivated audiences from Harlem’s Cotton Club to the Hollywood screen. But even as he broke barriers and made music history, the jazz legend kept certain chapters of his life shrouded in mystery.

Now, after 30 years of whispers and speculation, the Calloway family has finally addressed rumors that have swirled for generations — and their confirmation is sending shockwaves through the music and entertainment world.

The Man Behind the Spotlight

Cabell Calloway III was born on Christmas Day, 1907, in Rochester, New York, into a proud, educated African-American family. His father, a lawyer and real estate agent, and his mother, a teacher and church organist, instilled in him the value of hard work and education. But young Cab was drawn to the streets as much as the classroom, hustling for pocket change and learning life’s lessons in the bustling neighborhoods of Baltimore after the family relocated.

His early years were marked by both struggle and resilience. After losing his father, Cab found himself in trouble more than once, leading his mother to send him to a reform school. But even there, his love for music couldn’t be contained. He returned to Baltimore, balancing odd jobs with school and private singing lessons, and soon found himself performing in local clubs — much to his parents’ dismay.

Despite warnings from teachers and family that jazz was a risky path, Cab followed his heart. Mentored by jazz greats like Chick Webb and Johnny Jones, he honed his craft, performing at school dances, juke joints, and eventually joining his high school’s basketball team — even playing professionally for the Baltimore Athenians in the Negro League. By the time he graduated in 1925, Cab Calloway was already on his way to becoming a star.

The Rise of a Jazz Icon

After high school, Cab wasted no time chasing his dreams. He performed in Baltimore nightclubs, joined his trailblazing sister Blanche Calloway on tour, and soaked up wisdom from every bandleader and musician he met. At his mother’s urging, he enrolled in law school, but the lure of the stage proved too strong.

By the late 1920s, Cab was performing in Chicago’s hottest clubs, rubbing elbows with Louis Armstrong, who taught him the art of scat singing. In 1929, Cab made the bold decision to leave law school for good, joining the Alabamians band in New York. Though the group didn’t last, his talent caught the attention of Armstrong, who recommended him for the hit revue “Connie’s Hot Chocolates.” There, Cab’s rendition of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” brought him into the spotlight.

In 1930, Cab took over as leader of The Missourians, soon renaming them Cab Calloway and His Orchestra. Their big break came in 1931 when they were hired to fill in for Duke Ellington at Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club. The band’s energy and Cab’s showmanship secured them a permanent slot, and soon, Cab Calloway was a household name.

“Hi-De-Ho” and Hall of Fame Success

At just 23, Cab became the first African-American bandleader to host a nationally syndicated radio show. Even during the Great Depression, he was earning a fortune — sometimes up to $50,000 a year — a testament to his popularity and business savvy.

1931 also saw the release of his signature hit, “Minnie the Moocher.” Its catchy chorus and Cab’s improvisational scat style made it an instant classic, selling over a million copies — the first African-American artist to achieve such a feat. The song’s success led to appearances in Betty Boop cartoons, where Cab lent his voice and dance moves, cementing his place in pop culture.

Cab’s orchestra became a launching pad for future legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Ben Webster. Offstage, the band was a family, forming sports teams that toured and played charity games across the U.S. and beyond. But as musical tastes shifted after World War II, big bands faded, and Cab’s orchestra eventually disbanded.

Still, Cab’s influence only grew. He published the first-ever African-American slang dictionary, “Cab Calloway’s Cat-ologue,” and his career spanned five decades, from the 1930s to the 1970s. He starred in films, Broadway shows, and, in 1980, made an unforgettable appearance in “The Blues Brothers.” In 1993, President Bill Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Arts.

A Family Story — and a Hidden Chapter

Cab Calloway’s personal life was as colorful as his stage persona. He fathered a daughter, Camay, with Zelma Proctor while in law school, and later married Winona Betty Coniker, adopting another daughter, Constance. After their divorce, he wed Zulme “Nuffie” McNeill, with whom he had three more daughters: Chris, Cecilia, and Cabella.

Chris Calloway followed in her father’s footsteps, performing with his orchestra and starring on Broadway. Her passing in 2008 marked the end of an era — or so it seemed.

But then came the rumors. Whispers of a “secret child” began to circulate, centering on none other than Ja’Net DuBois, the beloved actress and singer best known for “Good Times” and the theme song of “The Jeffersons.” For years, the story seemed like little more than gossip — until official documents brought it to light.

The Ja’Net DuBois Mystery

Ja’Net DuBois, born Jeannette Theresa DuBois, was a star in her own right. Private about her early life, she gave conflicting accounts of her birth year and place. She overcame poverty, heartbreak, and the challenges of being a Black woman in entertainment, ultimately achieving fame on stage and screen.

When DuBois passed away in 2020, her death certificate stunned fans and journalists alike. It listed her name as Janette T. Calloway DuBois — and named Cab Calloway as her father.

The revelation set off a media firestorm. Had Cab Calloway, the jazz legend, fathered a child with Lillian Gouedy, Ja’Net’s mother, in the late 1920s? Did he keep this secret from the world — and perhaps from his own family?

For years, Ja’Net was believed to be the daughter of Lillian and Gordon DuBois, who married two years after her birth and raised her as his own. But according to her daughter’s interview, Ja’Net was indeed the child of Lillian and Cab Calloway, born in 1932 — not 1945, as she often claimed.

Fact, Rumor, or Family Legend?

Despite the death certificate and family statements, questions remain. Cab Calloway’s estate responded with admiration for Ja’Net’s career but said they had no knowledge of a biological connection, noting errors in the certificate and a lack of verification.

With all the principals now gone, the true nature of Ja’Net’s parentage may never be fully confirmed. But the similarities between father and daughter — their talent, charisma, and trailblazing spirit — are hard to ignore.

A Legacy That Lives On

Cab Calloway’s influence is felt to this day, from jazz clubs to hip-hop stages. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame, and the International Jazz Hall of Fame. His music, energy, and style continue to inspire artists across genres.

Even as new details emerge about his private life, Cab’s legacy remains one of innovation, resilience, and joy. As journalist Timothy White wrote, “No living pathfinder in American popular music… is so frequently emulated yet so seldom acknowledged as Cabell ‘Cab’ Calloway.”

The story of Cab Calloway — and perhaps, the story of Ja’Net DuBois — reminds us that legends are often more complex, and more human, than we ever imagined.