It Ain’t Necessarily So – 1965

Cab Calloway

Calloway performs a song originally designed for him

When George Gershwin wrote Porgy & Bess, he thought of Cab Calloway for the role of Sportin’ Life.

While John W. Bubbles (of Buck and Bubbles) played the role in the original 1936 production, Calloway was enlisted for the 1952 revival and played the role for a few years.

“It Ain’t Necessarily So” was the main number for the Sportin’ Life character, so here is Cab Calloway in a 1965 edition of the Ed Sullivan Show, singing the song in his own unique style.

-Scott Yanow