Calvin Leavy

b. 1942, Scott, Arkansas, USA. Leavy began his musical career in the gospel field at the age of 16, but in 1969 he recorded, singing and playing rhythm guitar, a strong southern blues entitled ‘Cummins Prison Farm’. The song featured an excellent guitar break from Robert Tanner. The recording was released by Calvin C. Brown, owner of Soul Beat Records and became a surprise hit about a year after it was made; it was subsequently picked up by Shelby Singleton Enterprises. Leavy made several more records for Soul Beat (and associate label Acquarian), often in the company of his bass-playing brother Hosea. Soon afterwards, however, he dropped into obscurity and little has been heard of him, although his hit has become a blues standard. Last reports seem to indicate he was playing bass guitar with a gospel group.
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