Calvin Pendleton, like many SW Virginia clawhammer masters, came to his playing through his family.  His grandfather, Green Pendleton and his father, Bill Pendleton, were exceptional players who took the time to make sure that Calvin not only had an instrument to learn on, but patiently taught him the “double note”  or “double thumbin” style of playing where an extra note is added on the drone string immediately after the index finger plucks another string.

            Among the Pendleton family in the Woolwine area were Calvin’s uncle, Dave, a well-known fiddler and two other brothers, Babe and Gervase, were also fiddlers.  Calvin’s 3^rd cousin, Delmar, was a fiddler and banjo player and frequently played dances and other events with Calvin, starting when they were young.  In addition, Buddy Pendleton, another relative from the Woolwine area became a celebrated Bluegrass fiddler and spent some time in Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys.

            For several years, Calvin and Delmar lived as neighbors in the Lone Ivy area of Woolwine and perfected a popular banjo fiddle sound that was in demand around SW Virginia.  Lone Ivy was often described as a community “tucked up under Lover’s Leap” a popular tourist spot on what is now State Highway 58.  The opportunity to play with so many accomplished musicians in the family allowed Calvin to develop a large repertoire of local tunes as well as a solid rhythmic attack that was referred to as “hardcore” banjo playing.

            Early on, Calvin played around the area with his brother, Gervase on fiddle, mostly at house parties and frolics. Their music could be heard at schoolhouses, family gatherings and all sorts of community events. They also perfected many comedy routines related to rural life, that were big hits with their audiences. Later, when Calvin teamed up with Delmar, as “The Smith Mountain Boys,” their music was on local radio as well as live performances across the county.

            In the 1970’s two collectors working with Rounder Records, Tom Carter and Blanton Owen recorded their music for Volume One of the “Old Originals collection.  In fact, Delmar’s portrait made it on the cover of that recording. Besides his fine clawhammer playing, Calvin had an unusual and “raspy” singing voice that added to the duo’s sound.  He also had the ability to collect and memorize the lyrics to a great number of old songs.  He also had a great way of making up lyrics that he didn’t know or couldn’t remember on the spot, contributing to the folk process.

            For many years, “The Lone Ivy Sound” has been a special, unique pocket of old time and bluegrass music, distinct, yet related to many other SW Virginia sounds.  Today, area still rings with the music of Calvin’s and other Pendletons descendants and continues to be a hot bed of music.