Calvin Arnold

Soul man Calvin Arnold has had a long and successful career as a songwriter and producer, but he also made a name for himself as a performer, cutting some potent singles in the 1960s and '70s that included a pair of R&B hits, "Funky Way" and "(I'm Your) Friendly Neighborhood Freak." Arnold's best work was firmly in the tradition of Southern Soul, with strong, emphatic vocals riding over lively arrangements with firmly danceable grooves. Arnold never cut an album during his career as a vocalist, but a collection of single sides and unreleased tracks appeared in 2024 titled Funky Way: Venture Recordings 1967-1969.