Bad Boy of Gospel Music (The Calvin Newton Story) - Written by Russ Cheatham
While interesting would be an understatement when it comes to the information in this book, honest would be an accurate statement. Then again, shocking could be another word in describing this book. One of the most accurate books I've ever read about the history of Southern Gospel Music is "Close Harmony", by Dr James Goff; however this book, -Bad Boy of Gospel Music is no doubt the most realistic book about the lives of Southern Gospel singer in the 40s and 50s in general, and about Calvin Newton in particular.
Described by many in the Southern Gospel industry as the best Tenor to ever grace the stage, Calvin was hooked on singing. Though he tried other genres including the secular pop and rock and roll scenes, he couldn't get away from his desire to sing Gospel Music. If you are easily offended by fallen singers them this book may help you be a little more understanding of such singers and how they becom entangled in standards less than we expect from our favorite Gospel Singers. If you are looking for the bad side of Gospel Music then you will probably gloat in a little self-righteousness while reading these pages. However, if you have an open mind, you will gain some understanding of what the early singers went through. Beware though that you may see some of those heroes in Southern Gospel Music were not as lily white clean as you might have thought. In fact, the language used by some of those old Gospel singers could at times be very "colorful".
Calvin calls this a book of restoration, and in a sense it is, as it tells of his restoration back into Southern Gospel Music. I believe however, that this book is more about how God never gives up on us, following us no matter where we end up. It's also a beautiful love story of how a loving wife never gave up on her husband, even when his weaknesses took him to the bowels of the earth. Understanding how Calvin came from a preacher's home that was very strict, you can see and follow his life as he rebelled against everything that his Father represented. Though Calvin knew that his parents loved him, he totally rebelled against not only what his Father taught, but against what the church that he was raised in stood for.
Being taunted and teased mercilessly as a Pentecostal preachers son by schoolmates, Calvin learned early to fight, and that carried on over to his adult life also as he became a Golden Gloves champion, finding it as a relief valve to his pent up rebellion. Calvin Newton did hit the pits of this life in a big way and paid a high price for his foolishness and lawless behavior. You may even learn some solemn things about life in prison, and see how prison ministry really does have a life changing effect on men who have hit bottom.
The name of this book could just have easily been called "Wasted Years", which would have been especially fitting since "Wasted Years" was Calvin Newton's signature song. In this book you will see how God changed a man's life, brought him back into the family of God, restored his family, and gave this man, who had been given up my nearly everyone as "not worth saving", the joy of restoring a career that he thought had been thrown away forever.
You will also see that just as many of today's groups who are ahead of their times, ridiculed, run down and just not appreciated, so it was with the Sons of Song, the group that Calvin was so instrumental in forming and making a success.
If you are looking for a great Christmas present, or birthday present, this will make a great gift. If you know a Southern Gospel fanatic, they will absolutely LOVE this book.
You can get this book though Amazon.com. You can also get this book directly from Calvin and help support his work today.
Calvin can be reached at 706-398-2822 or by writing him at
PO Box 375, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 10/18/2003
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Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 11
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Thanks for a candid review about the life of this legendary singer. I'm sure some may ridicule Calvin's choices, but others could honestly say "There by the grace of God go I".
It takes courage to lay your life open for the world to see. Many books have painted a rosy although not totally honest picture of life in gospel music. I dare say this isn't the case with "Bad Boy".
Thanks again Deon, for your review, and thank you, Calvin, for demonstrating the courage to share your life story.
Excellent review Deon. It makes me want to run out and buy me copy...which by the way, I really need to do!
I should've bought me one at NQC...shame on me! :oops:
Calvin's story is a 'must read' for me. I can't wait to read the book. I've seen Calvin sing many times at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion, and I admire him greatly.
Thanks for the review.. I had a chance to visit with CALVIN NEWTON at NQC.. I am looking forward to reading the book.. especially after DEON's comments.
I hope I can get the book soon too. I appreciate Calvin for having the courage to tell the out n out truth. 
Once again, you can order the bok directly from Calvin.
Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog
Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown
I ordered this book from Amazon and read it as soon as it arrived. While I don't think it's written all that well, it certainly is enlightening to what many refer to as the "grand old days of SG." Those days seem pretty pathetic in a lot of ways.
To Calvin I want to say what a wonderful testimony and encouragement for all who read your story. Thanks for being so brave Pat Benney:thumbsup:
I have known Calvin Newton over 40 yrs. I first knew him while working as a Gospel DJ working my way thru college, and he was a member of OAK RIDGE. Later I knew him as a founder of the SONS OF SONG. I saw him reach the very pinnacle of success in his music. The "SONS" were for a time the biggest "act" the Gospel music world had ever seen. Blessed with the voice of the angels and physical appearance and charisma the likes of which the Gospel stage has never seen ,this not only brought him fame and adoration of fans, but exposed him to unbelievable temtations. I saw his reaching the heights and was all too close as he crashed to the ultimate depths, when he called upon me as young trial lawyer to be his attorney in the Federal Court. One of the saddest days of my life was when as his Lawyer I saw this icon of Gospel music in Prison garb behind the bars of the Fed. Pen. in Alanta. This man who at age 16 was the tenor for the BLACKWOOD BROS. ,who was an original OAK RIDGE BOY and was the founder & signature voice of the SONS OF SONG, not only the most innovative but also the most popular group of its day, now a shell of a human being. There are remnants of the innovative changes brought to fore by the SONS still to be heard in the styles of virtually every group in existance today. To this day I cannot listen to the SONS "signature song" WASTED YEARS" without sheding a tear for this man who without realizing it was singing his own life. This book is not pretty but all too true and much too sad. Except the final chapters have not been wriiten on this talented man. He walks into the Sunset still a very talented man with an ability to sing with new conviction those songs about suffering and forgiveness. Our Christian faith is based on the fact that we are all sinners and that ours is a forgiving GOD. If GOD FORGIVES then who are we not to. Let we. sinners all not cast a stone but forgive Calvin .With the help of a remarkable loving and forgiving wife, Calvin has been able to turn his life around and will spend his golden years in peace at last. And should not this forgiveness extend also to the other singers & "industry" members, so that befor this true pioneer of this music genre reaches his final reward, that we recognize him where he belongs as a member of the SGM HALL OF FAME. HARRELL POWELL
I was always driven by my parents to any concerts within reasonable driving distance to see the Sons of Song--beween 1964? and 69--here in Southern Illinois. As a young girl, I , too was thrilled to be in his presence, often spending quite a bit of time sitting on his lap backstage. I even remember going with him to a neighbor's house to get a drink of water. (We must have really been off the beaten path!) I don't know why my parents trusted him. I remember asking him candidly about rumors that were circulating.
All I know now is that my dad died a month ago at the age of 86. I pulled out one of his old vinyl albums and did my best to play it, although the record was very worn. When I started singing "Palms of Victory" with them, I choked and tears flowed. I could hear my dad's voice and see him shaving as he did every Sunday morning while listening to that album and others. It was quite a trip down memory lane
Calvin Newton sang "I'm Building a Bridge" at my uncle's funeral in l989.
He was Floyd Golden, a promoter of gospel music for many years. My family
would love to have this sheet music.
Calvin if you're out there, can you help?
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