Cowboy Calvin
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SoundCloud |
BIO
A genuine hay baling, tractor driving, bull riding country singer and songwriter: When Cowboy Calvin takes the stage adorned with his substantial belt buckle, polished boots and trademark hat, he says that conversations stop. “People are surprised to see me. They’re silent when the band plays with the expectation of ‘What’s going to come out of his mouth?’ Most of the time they’re shocked - in a good way.”
American music was invented at the crossroads, a tradition that Cowboy Calvin continues. “ I see myself as a country artist who has a foundation of country, R&B, hip-hop and current genres,” he says. “I’m big with line dancing, and two-stepping. I like to move - I’m a two stepper, renegade, El Paso, cha-cha promenading son of a gun.” He remembers first hearing country music when he lived just outside of Macon, GA with his Uncle George, a dedicated country fan. The military exposed Cowboy Calvin to the camaraderie of soldiers from the South whose music was the perfect reflection of his ideals. “Not just music – but a way of life. I live in a small town; I love my country, people and God. All of the things I loved, country music loved. We just fell in love with each other.” In civilian life Calvin returned to his birthplace, Southern California. He began singing in karaoke bars, and developing his audience rapport. At age 21, he met his biological father who taught him the guitar. “It was something we could bond with. That’s what he gave me. He laid the foundation.” Cowboy Calvin moved to a town with a revered place in the history of country music, Bakersfield, CA. He performed at open mics at the famous Cowboy Palace Saloon, and handily won the competitions, and began writing his own songs. “A lot of writing comes from my personal life – I’m a party guy; I’ve had my heart broken and broken some hearts, so I write about that. My writing comes from what I see other people go through and what I’ve experienced.” Cowboy Calvin’s music is an invitation for audiences to get up and dance. “I want to be known as a country artist who is true to the genre, but I want to be known as the artist people come to see to have a good time. You’re not going to come to my show and sit down; you’ll have to get up and have an experience.” And he relates that performing for a live audience is a lot like riding bulls. “It’s an adrenalin rush. When I get on the bull I want to ride him and keep that pace. Same thing when I get on stage: I want an eight second journey with the bull and I want to enjoy a journey with the audience within the span of the song.” Discography
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