Calvin Leavy

Calvin James Leavy

b. April 20th, 1940 in Scott (Arkansas)

d. June 6th, 2010 in Pine Bluff (Arkansas)

COMPLETE RECORDINGS

Blue Eye blog (mp3)

1967 - 1976

THE BEST OF CALVIN LEAVY

Red Clay

CUMMINS PRISON FARM

P-Vine

1968 - 1976

Fils de Johnny et Cora James Leavy, il est le plus jeune de quinze enfants. Calvin commence à chanter à l'église puis dans des ensembles de Gospel. Dès 1954, il forme The Leavy Brothers Band avec ses frères (dont Hosea qui fit aussi une belle carrière de bluesman). Installé à Fresno (Californie) pendant quelques années, Calvin se fixe finalement à Little Rock vers 1967-68. Devenu un artiste majeur de la ville, il trouve l'opportunité de graver ses premiers morceaux pour le label Soul Beat (dirigé par Calvin C. Brown). Souvent accompagné de son frère Hosea Leavy à la basse, il décroche un superbe hit avec "Cummins prison farm" (écrit par Bill Cole). Mais, ses sommets sont nombreux à cette époque : "Brought you in the city", "One minute before midnight", "Born unlucky", "I've got troubles", "Is it worth all that I'm going through", "Funky jam", "Free from Cummins prison farm", "Thieves and robbers". Il y crée un son Soul-Blues rugueux, épais souvent irrésistible. Son chant - inspiré par Otis Redding - est profond et évocateur. Après le milieu des années 70, sa notoriété baisse nettement et il n'enregistre plus. En juillet 1992, il est condamné pour diverses affaires de trafic de drogue à une très longue peine de prison (qu'il commencera ironiquement au pénitencier de Cummins). Il meurt en détention en juin 2010.

Son of Johnny and Cora James Leavy, he is the youngest of fifteen children. Calvin begins to sing in church and then in Gospel ensembles. From 1954, he formed The Leavy Brothers Band with his brothers (including Hosea who also had a fine bluesman career). Settled in Fresno (California) for a few years, Calvin eventually settled in Little Rock around 1967-68. Having become one of the city major artist, he found the opportunity to record his first tracks for the Soul Beat label (directed by Calvin C. Brown). Often accompanied by his brother Hosea Leavy on bass, he created a superb hit with "Cummins prison farm" (written by Bill Cole). But, his summits are numerous at this time : "Brought you in the city", "One minute before midnight", "Born unlucky", "I've got troubles", "Is it worth all that I'm going through" , "Funky jam", "Free from Cummins prison farm", "Thieves and robbers". He creates a rough, often irresistible, Soul-Blues sound. His singing - inspired by Otis Redding - is deep and evocative. After the mid-1970's, his notoriety declined sharply and he no longer records. In july 1992, he was convicted of a very long prison sentence for various drug trafficking cases (which he began ironically in Cummins Penitentiary). He died in custody in june 2010.

MEET ME IN THE BOTTOM

Stackhouse

March 1976

Cette anthologie éditée en 2016 propose deux morceaux inédits de Calvin Leavy : "Consider yourself" et "Don't treat me this way".

This anthology issued in 2016 offers two unreleased tracks by Calvin Leavy : "Consider yourself" and "Don't treat me this way".