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School Zone
Guitar Legend Flying Calvin
Newborn Visits Students at Marine Science Center
 To look into the eyes of
legendary blues and jazz guitarist Calvin Newborn, one
not only sees, but feels his passion, joy and great love
of music. When his soulful eyes fix upon your eyes
while he’s playing his guitar, you cannot help but feel
the music flowing from his soul. Marine Science
Education Center (MSEC) Principal Ronald Summers invited
Flying Calvin Newborn to visit MSEC students in
celebration of Black History Month, so Calvin could
share his music and, most importantly, share some of his
life lessons with the students. On a small wooden stage
in an intimate performance hall across the street from
the MSEC, Flying Calvin gave students and faculty a
glimpse into his world of music and his life.
Flying Calvin received his
name from the energetic moves he performed while playing
his guitar on stage. He shared with the students that
he decided to fly during his recovery from a severe burn
when he was four years old. Calvin spent six months
lying face down under ultraviolet (UV) lights. He said,
“When I laid under the UV lights for six months, I used
to dream I could fly, so when I got of the hospital, I
started flying.” Calvin started flying across the stage
with his guitar in hand, and he never stopped. Even
now, at more than 70 years old, Calvin may sit in a
chair to play his guitar, but he can’t stop his feet
from tapping, legs from lifting or arms from moving when
he emphasizes his musical notes.
Flying Calvin was born into a
musical family in Memphis, Tennessee. According to
Calvin, once he discovered his older brother’s natural
ability to play the piano, he chose the guitar. He
wasn’t going to compete with his brother. He would
learn his own instrument—the guitar. Thankfully for all
of us, Calvin chose well. Since that day, the blues and
jazz music scene has never been the same.
After his entertaining
performance in front of the MSEC students, Flying Calvin
had a chat with them and shared some of his life stories
with the students. He said, “I grew up too fast.”
Calvin learned everything about music and life through
real-world experience, and while some of those
experiences were unbelievably wonderful, others were
challenging. Calvin shared good memories such as
playing with B.B. King, Ray Charles and Elvis Presley;
serving as an example to an unknown Elvis, who would
later borrow Calvin’s moves; and earning the name of the
king of after hours blues. Calvin stated about his
friend Elvis’ fame, “While Elvis got the glory, I got
the longevity.”
Some of the memories which
proved the most challenging were growing up in a
different time where black and white people drank from
different water fountains and used different bathrooms
and restaurants. He shared with the students that he
remembers having to get out of the way of white people
when walking in public. “That’s what time it was in the
South,” said Calvin. “I learned a lot of humility
through all of that.” Flying Calvin went on to say that
“the soul ain’t got no color,” and he urged the students
to “get on the good foot.”
The students were impressed
with Calvin’s guitar playing, attitude and stories.
When he played his music, the students were in the
audience tapping their feet, nodding their heads in time
to the music, and snapping photographs of the legend
with their camera phones. When he spoke to them, they
gave him their full attention and looked at him with
wonder.
Flying Calvin Newborn is an
outstanding musical talent and an amazing human being.
He opened the eyes, ears and hearts of more than 25 MSEC
students in a small room in Mayport Village. The
students will not forget about him, nor the wisdom he
imparted.
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