In My Time

An Interview with Cab Kaye

Abstract

Background: Augustus Kwamla or Kwamalah  Nii-lante  Quaye, better known as Cab Kaye (3 September 1921, London -13 March 2000, Amsterdam). Kaye's father, Caleb Quaye (b. Ghana, 1895 - 1922), performed in London under the name Ernest Mope Desmond and led an ensemble called the Five Musical Dragons, in which Arthur Briggs, Sidney' Bechet, and George "Bobo" Hines played. Kaye worked as an assistant to Billy Cotton from age 14 and sang with this group on record in 1936. He started on drums the following year, and played with Ken "Snakehips" Johnson for a time before working as a merchant marine. His ship was torpedoed in the Pacific Ocean in 1942; he was not injured and was rescued by airplane, bur the plane crashed and he was hospitalized in New York City as a result. Upon his return  to London late in the year he sang with Harry Parry, then formed a group briefly in 1943 which included Ronnie Scott among its members. Kaye played with Jiver  Hutchinson's .All Coloured Band on troop tours in 1946--47, then .... with Ted Heath (1947), Tito Burns (1948), and ]azz at the Town Hall.