Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Minter
Hi Caleb, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am the son of Ruby Woods Minter Harvey and Clarence Minter Sr. Both of my parents are artists in their own right. My mother is a dynamic speaker and actress, and my father has a voice from God, which I took after. I grew up in a small town called Bolivar, Tennessee, where everyone either knew one another or was related. Although Bolivar has birthed some of the most brilliant people, there were limited resources and job opportunities. Many successful people in Bolivar inspired me, but few were pursuing the artistic path I dreamed of. It was a place full of love, where people worked hard and made the best of what they had.
I also come from a family with a strong work ethic. My grandfather, Joe Frank Sr., worked as a sharecropper for over 30 years. My mother, Ruby, raised two kings as a single parent. From them, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. Their spirit of determination has shaped much of my own mindset, which I still carry today.
I had one biological brother, Clarence Minter Jr., who was my best friend growing up. We were only 14 months apart, so we were always close. My mother would dress us alike so often that most people thought we were twins. Clarence was the first person I ever recorded a song with. He was a true artist—he had many gifts, including being a producer, rapper, visual artist, and he could clean the mess out of a car. He was the first person to tell me that I was a star and to never quit singing. His belief in me remains one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.
I also come from a musical family. My mother and her six sisters were part of “The Wood Sisters” gospel group, and my father’s group was called The Brotherhood Gospel Singers. I still listen to my father’s record today. Music was always in the air, but I didn’t know my voice was the gift that would one day open doors for me to make a living. I always heard the saying, “Your gift will make room for you,” but it took me some time to realize that my voice was that gift.
It wasn’t until my grandmother, Alice Mae Woods, played a huge part in pushing me to sing for others that I began to realize my potential. I’ll never forget the first time I sang in public—at my Uncle Tommy’s pastor appreciation day at his church. I was around 13, and my grandmother bribed me with $20 (which was a lot of money back then!) to get up and sing. I was hesitant, but something told me to do it. I sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” That $20 was the beginning of my journey. Her encouragement planted a seed that would grow into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
After graduating from Bolivar Central High School, I left Bolivar to attend college at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where I began to see new possibilities. I performed and competed in school talent shows. Shockingly, I won the title of MTSU Idol and took home a cash prize in my freshman year after singing “Her Heart” by Anthony Hamilton. Even with the opportunities college presented, I still didn’t know anyone close who was living as an artist. The idea of being a full-time musician felt more distant in this new environment, despite being surrounded by people from all walks of life. I received my bachelor’s degree in public health, intending to become an epidemiologist—the study of disease. Soon after, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, without a plan, just knowing I wanted to explore beyond Tennessee. My Aunt Helen lived there, so it made the transition smoother. Thank you, Aunt Helen, I love you! After months of job hunting, I landed a position at Northside Hospital as a patient access representative in the ER for a year.
In 2014, my life changed drastically when I received the phone call that my brother was murdered by gun violence. I was devastated, angry, confused, lost, and wondering why this had happened to us. I thought I had lost my mother too—she was so overcome with grief that she would lie and cry for days and nights. I thought she was losing her mind, but God gave her strength. In the midst of that pain, I felt called to create M.A.G.N.U.M (Men/Mothers Against Gun violeNce Unity Movement). M.A.G.N.U.M’s purpose is to bring love into places that feel dark, creating a safe space for us to heal together as a community while bringing live music and gun violence education into the conversation. Shortly after, I released my first single and music video, ‘Gone Too Soon,’ dedicated to my brother Clarence. Please check it out — it’s available on all digital music platforms.
As time went on, my mindset began to shift. I saw how others were chasing their own versions of success—whether through art, entrepreneurship, or just living authentically—and I realized the only thing holding me back was the fear that I wasn’t capable.
My mother is the only person from my immediate family to receive her MA degree, and that accomplishment continues to inspire me to strive for more. Her determination to break barriers in our family has always been a powerful reminder that anything is possible. She also instilled in me one of the most important lessons I live by: “Don’t try to fit in when you were made to stand out.” I keep a plaque with those words in my house, and I read them every day. I also live by one of my favorite scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse has always been a guiding light in my life, reminding me that even in the toughest times, there’s a purpose, a plan, and a hope for the future. It keeps me grounded and focused, knowing that no matter where the journey takes me, God’s plan for my life is greater than anything I could have imagined on my own.
In 2019, another life-changing event came my way. I received a call from a college friend, Justin Hart, who told me that Kanye West and The Sunday Service were hosting auditions. Without thinking twice, I booked a flight to L.A.—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of something historic. I auditioned and got the gig, moving me from Atlanta to Los Angeles in less than a month.
In L.A., I hit the ground running, performing weekly with some of the biggest names in the industry. From July 2019 to March 2020, I had the honor of singing with Sunday Service. I’ll never forget performing at Paris Fashion Week—an unforgettable moment in my life. I remember getting the notification on March 11 while performing during Paris Fashion Week that the world had shut down due to the global pandemic, COVID-19. That moment marked a huge shift in the world, and my career, as the music industry came to a halt. I couldn’t perform in group settings for a while and found myself struggling to make ends meet. During this time, I began street performing, bringing love and light to people through music in the hopes of making money for rent and daily expenses.
But again, God showed up. I found other ways to keep moving forward, and I came across an ad on Craigslist for singers. Without hesitation, I applied, and shortly after, I got a response saying it was for the TV show I Can See Your Voice. Long story short, I ended up winning as the Singing Chef/Secret Voice, helping a single mother win $100,000. That was one of the most emotional performances I’ve had on television, and I felt so honored to be part of such a beautiful moment.
In July 2021, I was struck with an Achilles injury that kept me sidelined for 7-8 months. I couldn’t perform and had to rely on others for help physically. Though it was a tough period, it gave me the time and space to sit with myself and confront trauma I hadn’t dealt with. I started therapy, and it was one of the most transformative decisions I’ve ever made.
Then, on July 1st, 2022, something incredible happened. Mayor Jimmy Sain honored me with a proclamation, making July 1st Caleb Minter Day in Hardeman County. It was an overwhelming moment to realize just how much love and support I had from my hometown. It reminded me that I was on the right track and that the work I was doing was meaningful.
Today, I wake up every day and do what I love. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. It took time, a lot of self-doubt, and pushing through, but I’m here now—and I never thought I would be. From a shy kid in Bolivar who never imagined this life to someone out here doing what I love every single day.
In fact, M.A.G.N.U.M helped give birth to my own band, Caleb Minter and The Structure Band. We offer a live music experience you won’t forget, blending a wide array of both original and cover songs. So, if you’re planning an event and want a show that will leave a lasting impact, book us today!
It’s proof that even if you can’t see it, you can still create it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am today hasn’t been easy. It’s been filled with pain, loss, and struggles that tested every ounce of my strength. Growing up in a small town of 5,000 people, where dreams often felt distant, I didn’t have many examples of people like me pursuing a creative path—despite having artistically gifted parents.
Even though my mother was a dynamic speaker and actress for mostly church and Black History events, and my father had a voice that could move mountains, the idea of using my gift to make a living in a place where resources were limited and opportunities seemed out of reach. But I carried their spirit of perseverance inside me, even when the road ahead looked unclear.
Along the way, self-doubt became my constant companion. I questioned whether I was capable, whether my dream of pursuing music was just that—a dream. But life has a way of forcing you to face your fears. The loss of my brother, Clarence, broke me. The grief was unbearable. On top of that, my family lost my brother, Aunt Martha, and Aunt Nellie within a one-year period. It felt as though the world was closing in around me. Not to mention, we recently lost my first cousin, Montrez McAllister, two days after my brother’s birthday on January 8th, 2023, to a vicious act of gun violence. In turn, I put my hurt and anger into the music and released “Until We Meet Again” on my latest EP Worth The Wait, produced and cowritten by one of my closest friends, Nathan Kay.
But I made a choice. In the midst of the pain, I knew I had to push forward—for my family and for myself.
It wasn’t easy. There were days when I doubted everything I was doing. But the drive to honor my brother’s legacy pushed me through. It wasn’t about the fear anymore—it was about showing up for myself, no matter what. And in doing so, I’ve discovered that the greatest breakthroughs often come from those moments when we feel most uncertain.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
M.A.G.N.U.M (Men/Mothers Against Gun violeNce Unity Movement) in a non profit born from the most painful experience of my life—the tragic loss of my brother, Clarence, to gun violence. Losing him wasn’t just a loss for me; it was a loss for my entire family, and it left a hole in our community that felt too big to fill. Grief, anger, confusion—they all consumed me. It was hard to see any light after that tragedy, but through the darkness, I felt a call, a pull to do something more than just mourn.
I couldn’t stand by and let his death be another statistic. I had to turn the pain into purpose, and that’s when M.A.G.N.U.M. was conceived. It wasn’t just about the pain—it was about what we could do to bring healing, love, and understanding to places that often feel hopeless. Our mission became clear: to create a safe space where people, especially those affected by gun violence, could come together, share their stories, and begin to heal.
M.A.G.N.U.M’s purpose is multi-faceted. At its core, it’s about using music as a healing tool and a medium for change. Gun violence is a public health crisis, but it’s also a human tragedy that can often feel too big to tackle. So, we started by bringing music and education into the conversation—lifting up the voices of those who have been affected, while educating people about the impact of gun violence and how we can prevent it.
It’s about showing people that there is more to life than the violence that surrounds them, about showing them that there’s hope even when the world feels broken. It’s about creating a community where love, unity, and understanding are the foundation for healing. The journey to starting M.A.G.N.U.M. hasn’t been easy, but it’s been one of the most important decisions I’ve made—because it’s not just for me. It’s for my brother, for my family, and for all the families who have been affected by this senseless violence.
Through M.A.G.N.U.M., I’ve been able to honor my brother’s memory in a way that’s tangible, meaningful, and impactful. This movement has allowed me to take the pain I once thought would break me and turn it into something that will hopefully save others. And I will continue to fight—for my brother, for my family, for my community—until we see a world where violence no longer dictates our lives.
One of the things I’m most proud of in my life is starting M.A.G.N.U.M. It’s not just a movement—it’s a piece of my heart, born from my deepest pain. But what fills me with even more pride is knowing that through M.A.G.N.U.M., I’ve shown my niece, Caitlyn, that even in the face of tragedy, you can choose to keep your heart open. Caitlyn lost her father, my brother Clarence, in the most unimaginable way. And though I can’t undo the hurt, I can show her that there’s strength in love, in healing, and in the courage to continue pursuing joy even when the world feels heavy. I want her to know that she’s not bound by the pain of loss—she has the power to turn her grief into something that helps others.
What sets M.A.G.N.U.M. apart from other movements is its raw heart. We’re not here for political agendas or flashy campaigns. We’re here because we’ve lived through the pain of losing someone we love to senseless violence. Our movement is grounded in the real, raw emotion that comes with losing a loved one. It’s the heartbreak, the sleepless nights, the anger, the confusion—the very things that no one ever wants to talk about. But it’s those raw, unfiltered emotions that give M.A.G.N.U.M. its authenticity. It’s not just a cause—it’s a part of who we are.
The heart of M.A.G.N.U.M. isn’t polished or perfect—it’s messy, it’s real, and it’s built on the belief that we can heal together, despite the scars. We’ve been through the storm and we know that the journey to healing isn’t easy. But we’re here to offer a safe space for those who need it most. We’re not offering solutions that sound good on paper; we’re offering real love, real connection, and real hope, because that’s what saved us.
Through M.A.G.N.U.M., I hope to inspire others, especially my niece Caitlyn, to keep their hearts open in the face of grief. Because if we can love in the darkest moments, then there’s nothing we can’t overcome together.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Likes:
Los Angeles is a place where endless opportunities abound. It’s a city that allows you to truly create the world you want to live in—whether through connections, experiences, or creative endeavors. The city feels alive with possibilities, and the chance to shape your future feels more tangible here than it has anywhere else. The energy is contagious, pushing you to dream bigger, go further, and take risks.
Dislikes:
On the flip side, Los Angeles can often feel lonely and empty. There are times when, despite being surrounded by people, you feel disconnected, as if you’re just one small part of a much larger machine. Some experiences don’t always feel genuine, and the “what can you do for me?” mentality can be overwhelming. It’s a city that thrives on hustle, but sometimes that leaves little room for true, authentic connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebash.com/singer/caleb-minter
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecalebminter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalebMinterMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalebMinterMusic
Image Credits
Photographers -Oxana Alex
