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Elvis Presley's favorite singer was, Jake Hess, lead singer of one of the most famous gospel quartets of all time, The Statesmen. According to Russ Cheatham, author of Calvin Newton's biography, Jake Hess's favorite singer was, Calvin Newton. On the cover of, "Bad Boy of Gospel Music-The Calvin Newton Story", Jake Hess wrote, "Anyone who reads this book and listens to Calvin Newton sing will discover what I have known all along-he is the finest gospel music singer there has ever been". That commentary could have caused some envy in Elvis Presley, since he loved singing gospel music. But Calvin's range and unique vocal ability set him apart from the vocalists of all genres.
Calvin is an unique individual whose extraordinary life has had many twists and turns including one that landed him in prison. A gospel music singer in prison? Yes, something awfully wrong brought Calvin Newton to unimaginable depths, but by the grace of God and a good woman named, Joyce, now his wife, Calvin made a miraculous come back. The Sons of Song, the first trio in the gospel music business, were so exciting that no one wanted to follow them on stage. Someone noted that, "The Sons were so hot that other groups were afraid of melting in their tracks".
Calvin Newton, Bob Robinson and Don Butler had it all. Talent, charisma, movie star good looks and unbelievable stage presence. I suppose it is possible to be too blessed for your own good. But this first trio in gospel music was a force to be reckoned with. Their first public appearance was the result of actually begging to get on stage during the intermission of another group's concert. As soon as they started singing, people stopped, turned and hurried back to their seats, spell bound. They knew they were hearing something wonderfully different from anything they'd ever heard before. The concessioners brought a law suit against the promoter because they sold hardly anything during intermission that night. That was the beginning of a career that sky rocketed the Sons of Song to fame.
Calvin Newton's life is a great example of how it is not possible for someone to fall so far from grace that they can't be retrieved by God's saving grace.
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