Calvin James Leavy was born on April 20, 1940, in Scott, Pulaski County, Arkansas. He sang in his church choir as a child and later performed with gospel ensembles in Little Rock. In 1954, he formed the Leavy Brothers Band, which gained local popularity. The band's breakthrough came in 1970 with "Cummins Prison Farm," reaching number 40 on the US Billboard R&B chart. They also participated in the Arkansas Bicentennial Blues Project and performed at the Beale Street Music Festival in 1977 before disbanding. Leavy later formed Calvin Leavy and the Professionals, maintaining a strong local fan base. Leavy died on June 6, 2010, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at the age of 70.
