Biography-Born in 1929 in West Frankfort, Illinois. Father was coal-miner and Church of God preacher, who began several churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois (including one in Chicago). -Served in Far East during the Korean War. -Member of the Gaither “Homecoming Family” participating in various Gaither videos and concerts. Featured with solos on “All Day Singing,” “Sing Your Blues Away,” “Down by the Tabernacle,” and “Hymns” Gaither videos. -Toured Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England three times (accompanied by various other Gaither Homecoming Friends on the first trip; on the third trip he and his son Wes led a group of several country and gospel artists), and sang to packed houses and receptive audiences. -Headed up Sons of Song (1957 through early 60’s). Their first long-play record included ten songs, six of which achieved top-10 positions on the charts. This group appeared with Mahalia Jackson at the first racially integrated gospel concert in the Southeast (at Eastern Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN). Mahalia signed them to join her on a European tour, but her health failed before that trip became a reality. Bill Gaither called the Sons the first contemporary gospel group. -Member of Oak Ridge Quartet (1953-57). This was a fun group, where Calvin started jumping off stages to add impact to certain songs. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame in 2000 as a former member of the Oaks. -Member of Blackwood Brothers Quartet (late 1940’s), headquartered in Shenandoah, Iowa. He sang first tenor, with James Blackwood on second tenor, R. W. Blackwood on baritone, and Bill Lyles on bass. (Youngest member ever of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet.) Inducted into GMA’s Hall of Fame as member of Blackwood Brothers. -Member of Melody Masters Quartet (1945), the forerunner of the Statesmen Quartet. He sang tenor; other members were Jake Hess, Big Chief Wetherington, Alvin Toodle, and Wally Varner. -In early 60’s, established Justice Recording Company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, an independent custom-label recording company, which he operated for several years. Among the artists on this label were several “garage” bands who were later recognized as pioneers in this field. -Presented with the “Living Legend Award” by the Grand Old Gospel Convention (Charles Waller) in 1999. -Honored with a special “Courage Award” by Solid Rock Productions (Jim Hefner) in 2002. -His version of “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” was the theme song for 17 consecutive years on Joe Rumore’s gospel program on a 50,000-watt radio station in Birmingham. -He recorded (in the early 50’s) a rock-and-roll song, “Just As You Are,” which was given a rating of 96 on “Dick Clark’s American Bandstand,” one of the highest ratings ever given. -Has been singing gospel music for 60 years. -Subject of a biography, Bad Boy of Gospel Music, published by University Press of Mississippi and written (after seven years of research) by Dr. Russ Cheatham, Professor at Cumberland University. The 319-page cutting-edge book has been nominated for three prestigious awards—ASCAP’s Outstanding Music Biography Award, ASCAP’s Deems Taylor Award for Excellence in Music Literature, and BMI’s Ralph J. Gleason Award for Excellence in Music Literature. -Lives on Lookout Mountain, right out of Chattanooga, with his wife Joyce. He has a son, Wes (who travels and sings with Calvin); a daughter and son-in-law Jackie (also featured on Gaither videos) and Keith Harling (country singer/songwriter); and a granddaughter Samantha Harling, all of whom live on adjacent properties on Lookout Mountain. -To be released in the near future, a Gospel Bluegrass solo recording project from Copperhill Records, produced by Danny Davenport (former Vice-President of Warner Brothers Records, who spearheaded Travis Tritt’s rise to success). -What brings the most joy to Calvin is not receiving honors and awards. Rather it comes from hearing from folks whose lives have been touched by his ministry. Reverend Emma Hutchison is a missionary in Zambia, whose assignment is teaching other missionaries who will be sent throughout Africa. She contacted Calvin to let him know that she is using his life as a teaching tool in her classes as an example of God’s love and redemptive power. His sharing of how he reached the “bottom” during his time in prison, and that was when God became most real to him, often reaches people who feel there is no hope for them. -John Hepburn is a North Sea fisherman from Fraserburg, Scotland. North Sea fishermen face dangers every day and are a very hardy breed of men who are away from home on their fishing boats for weeks and months at a time. John’s wife Linda, a devoted Christian, kept packing Gaither gospel videos for him to watch while at sea, but he had no interest in “churchy” things. One evening he was ill and was searching for something to watch. Nothing really interested him, and he finally put the “All Day Singing” video in his VCR and fast-forwarded through it, stopping periodically to check it out. Calvin’s testimony caught his attention and he continued to watch his solo, and during that song he fell to his knees and opened his heart to Christ. Calvin and his wife had the privilege of spending a day with John and Linda and their family (3 children) during a visit to Scotland, and enjoyed a precious time of Christian fellowship. -Calvin has heard many similar experiences, and thousands have said they’ve been blessed by his ministry; and those are what make it all worthwhile to him. -Calvin’s testimony: If there ever were dreams that were lofty and noble, they were my dreams at the start; And the hopes for life’s best were the hopes that I harbored down deep in my heart; But my dreams turned to ashes, my castles all crumbled, my fortunes turned to loss; So I wrapped them all in the rags of my life, and I laid it at the cross. And He made something beautiful….of my life.
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