Calvin Simon facts for kids
Calvin Eugene Simon (born May 22, 1942 – died January 6, 2022) was a famous American singer. He was a key member of two awesome bands: Parliament and Funkadelic. Calvin Simon is even in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! He was added in 1997 with many other talented musicians from Parliament-Funkadelic.
Quick facts for kids
Calvin Simon
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Calvin Eugene Simon
May 22, 1942 Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | January 6, 2022 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Singer |
Contents
Early Life of Calvin Simon
Calvin Simon was born in Beckley, West Virginia, on May 22, 1942. When he was older, he joined the United States Army in 1966. He served his country during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968.
Music Career and Achievements
Calvin Simon began his music journey in the late 1950s. He was part of a group called The Parliaments. This group was a doo wop singing group, like a barbershop quintet, led by the famous George Clinton.
Joining Parliament-Funkadelic
Later, The Parliaments grew into the legendary bands Parliament and Funkadelic. These groups were known for their unique "funk" music style. Calvin Simon was a very important singer in both bands.
New Beginnings in Music
In 1978, Calvin Simon, along with other original members, left Parliament-Funkadelic. They decided to form a new group. In 1981, they released an album called Connections & Disconnections under the name Funkadelic.
Years later, in 1998, Calvin Simon and other original members started a new group called Original P. They performed together for many years.
Gospel Music and Awards
After taking a break from the music scene, Calvin Simon started singing gospel music. He even created his own music label called Simon Says Records. In June 2004, he released a gospel album called Share the News. This album was very popular and reached number 32 on the "Billboard" Top Gospel Albums chart.
In 2019, Calvin Simon and the other members of Parliament-Funkadelic received a special honor. They were given Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards for their amazing contributions to music.
Death
Calvin Simon passed away on January 6, 2022. He was 79 years old.
