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Biography
Blanche Calloway (February 9, 1902 - December 16, 1978) was an African-American jazz singer, bandleader, and composer.
She was the older sister of Cab Calloway, she was scattin' before he was. Dropping out of Maryland's then controversial all negro Morgan State College in 1923 for a life in show business, Calloway was the first woman to lead an all-male orchestra. With a music career that spanned over fifty years, she recorded in the 20's for Okeh and Vocalion, including a 1925 session with Louis Armstrong. In 1931, she was invited to tour with Andy Kirk and joined Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy. She was a popular & brash live performer, who often ended up upstaging the bandleader, eventually leaving with his disgruntled trumpet player Edgar "Puddin Head" Battle to start her own outfit. Determined to go out on her own, Blanche Calloway and her Joy Boys became a top rated touring act, recording for RCA-Victor until they disbanded in 1938. They were also known as "Blanche Calloway and Her Orchestra".