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Calvin Lewis
Calvin Houston Lewis is an American songwriter best known for co-writing the timeless classic "When a Man Loves a Woman" alongside Andrew Wright. Born in Sheffield, Alabama, Lewis was a teenager when he joined the local band Esquires Combo, where he played bass. It was during this time that he collaborated with Wright to create the iconic song that would become a defining piece of pop music history.

"When a Man Loves a Woman" was first performed by Percy Sledge, who joined the Esquires Combo in 1965. The song achieved remarkable success, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts, and peaking at number four in the UK upon its initial release. It was later featured in a Levi's 501 Jeans commercial in 1987, which helped it climb to number two in the UK charts once again. The song's enduring appeal was further cemented when Michael Bolton's 1991 cover also reached number one on the U.S. Pop and Adult Contemporary Singles charts, earning him a Grammy Award.

Despite the song's success, "When a Man Loves a Woman" was the only song that Lewis and Wright wrote together. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Bette Midler, Marvin Gaye, and Jerry Butler, and remains a staple in the annals of music history, ranking 54th in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

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