After 30 Years, Cab Calloway’s Family Confirms the Rumors: The Hidden Daughter of Jazz Icon

Cab Calloway, the legendary bandleader and jazz pioneer known as “The Hi-De-Ho Man,” captivated audiences with his electrifying performances and scat singing.

But behind the fame lay a life of secrets, including a rumored hidden daughter. Now, after decades, his family has confirmed the truth about Ja’Net DuBois, the beloved actress from *Good Times*, as his long-lost child. This revelation sheds light on Calloway’s complex personal life and enduring legacy.

Born Cabell Calloway III on December 25, 1907, in Rochester, New York, Calloway grew up in a middle-class African-American family. His father was a lawyer, his mother a teacher and organist.

Tragedy struck early: his father died in 1919, prompting a move to Baltimore. Young Cab skipped school to shine shoes and bet on horses, sparking his rebellious streak. Sent to reform school for gambling, he returned to Baltimore, where private singing lessons fueled his passion for music despite parental disapproval.

Calloway’s early career began in Baltimore nightclubs, mentored by Chick Webb and Johnny Jones. In 1927, he toured with his sister Blanche’s revue, deepening his showbiz ties.

He enrolled in law school but dropped out in 1929 to pursue singing full-time. Recommended by Louis Armstrong, he joined *Connie’s Hot Chocolates*, where “Ain’t Misbehavin'” made him a star. Leading The Missourians in 1930, he renamed it Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, scoring hits like “Minnie the Moocher” in 1931. The song sold a million copies, featured in Betty Boop cartoons, and earned him a Grammy Hall of Fame induction.

His Cotton Club residency in Harlem brought fame, with radio broadcasts and films like *The Big Broadcast*. Calloway’s energetic style—white-tailed tuxedo, baton, and Hi-De-Ho dance—wowed crowds. He toured globally, mentored stars like Dizzy Gillespie, and self-published “Cab Calloway’s Cat-ologue,” a hepster dictionary.

Post-WWII, big bands declined, but he acted in films and Broadway, earning a National Medal of Arts from President Clinton. He died in 1994 from pneumonia, aged 86, honored posthumously.

Calloway’s marriages were turbulent. He had five known children: daughter Camay (born 1927 out of wedlock), adopted Constance with first wife Winona (married 1928, divorced 1949), and three with second wife Nuffie (married 1949).

Daughter Chris became a singer, touring with him until her 2008 death from breast cancer.

The bombshell came with Ja’Net DuBois’s 2020 death certificate, listing her as Janette T. Calloway DuBois, born in 1932 (not 1945). Raised by stepfather Gordon DuBois, she starred in *Good Times* and co-wrote “Movin’ On Up.” Rumors swirled of an affair between Calloway and her mother Lillian during his rising fame.

Calloway’s estate denied knowledge, citing certificate errors, but his family now confirms Ja’Net as his daughter, born during his first marriage. This adds a poignant layer to his legacy, blending triumph with hidden family ties.