After basic, went to Tokorozawa, Japan-served as a medic, and also sang at night in two clubs in Tokyo-the Rocker Four Club was a noncom officers’ club, and the Crystal Ballroom was an officers’ club (both clubs under one roof). While there, Calvin sang with Lou Barton and his Orchestra at the Officers Club. But before he could graduate, he was drafted to serve in the Korean War and on March 30,1951, reported to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then went on to Fort Bliss, Texas, for basic training. He also briefly sang with Carl Raines and the All-American Quartet. They had a twice-a-day radio program on WMAZ. Calvin left boxing undefeated.įall of 1950, Calvin moved to Macon to enroll at Mercer University, enrolled in ROTC program, and sang with Deacon Utley’s Smile-A-While Quartet (one of the Stamps-Baxter sponsored quartets). On February 28, 1950, Calvin fought in a preliminary bout on the same card as Joe Louis, who was fighting an “exhibition match” (he was officially retired from boxing at the time). They relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to be a regular on a radio station then to Columbus, GA, to represent an automobile dealer at events, and on a radio program sponsored by himĬalvin had a nightly radio program on WRBL in 1950, in Columbus, GA, called Dinner Interlude and also sang at two nightclubs in Phenix City, across the river from Columbus then got involved in the Georgia State Golden Gloves, and was coached by HB Yates. The Crusaders were a regular part of the Renfrow Valley Barn Dance. Then in late 1949, Calvin sang with the Crusaders Quartet (with Glen Pennington, Mose Eteker and Rudy Shelton). State Golden Gloves in Lexington, and won the Kentucky State Middleweight Golden Gloves Championship. They were on KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa, then in 1948 went back to finish high-school (Richmond, KY, where his parents had moved) and entered the Ky. Blackwood, Bill Lyles and Hilton Griswold). Money was so scarce that all 5 members slept in one room-2 double beds and a rollaway (every 5 weeks, you’d get your turn at the rollaway), with only one tube of toothpaste (Chief one morning told Cal not to use so much toothpaste!)Ĭalvin joined the Blackwood Brothers in 1948 (with James & R.W. They got a regular show there and relocated to Greenville. Hovie Lister heard them and suggested they contact WFBC in his hometown of Greenville, S.C. They had a radio show on WSUN in Tampa/St. In 1947, Calvin was asked to join the Melody Masters (with Jim “Big Chief” Wetherington, Wally Varner, Lee Kitchens, and Mosie Lister ). Calvin worked at night unloading boxcars and as a supervisor of grown men, then from 1945-46, Calvin attended BTS (Church of God Bible Training School, forerunner of Lee University), where he sang with Victory Four and later with the Kingsmen Four (with Vernon Klaudt, Bennie Triplett, Jimi Hall), then left school, and Kingsmen Four went on their own, with Wally Varner playing piano. In the 1940’s the family moved to Chicago. His song leader, who traveled with him, was Otis McCoy Richard) was the very first national evangelist for the Church of God. By the time he was six, he was singing with his mom and dad on a Saturday morning radio show in Harrisburg, Illinois. Calvin was the son of a Pentecostal preacher, and for young Calvin, he found that singing in church was as natural as talking. Wesley ‘Calvin’ Newton was born in West Frankfort, Illinois on October 28, 1929, to parents Irene and Leonard Newton. Gospel music legend, Calvin Newton, passed away peacefully in his home, on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, on Friday, March 3, 2023.
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