It is with great sadness that we
announce that our longtime lead singer Calvin Linthicum,
known on stage as Cal Linley, has died.
Cal
was hospitalized this past April with a throat tumor.
Multiple issues ensued for
Cal
after that, and he finally died of respiratory failure on
September 11.
Cal
leaves behind his wife, Athena, two sons, Richard and Bobby, and a very
long musical legacy that has touched endless people in our
area. He began singing with the Newports in 1961, shortly
after the band began, and was the group’s original lead
singer. Over the years, he launched several revival
versions of the Newports, including the current band,
which began performing in 2001. In the 1980s, he also
started a band of employees of GSA where he worked, which
performed for countless government events. His uncanny
optimism inspired so many who thought the challenges would
be too great to perform successfully.
Cal
will be greatly missed, and already is. He had a voice like no other. He
lived to perform, and brought great joy to so many in that
role. We in the Newports are grateful beyond words for the
role he has had in each of our lives, and the dear friend
he has been to all of us. |