Cal Darling, a Newark, NJ native, began an interest in music at the tender age of three. Like a lot  of musicians, he started out playing drums at his church as a child. Not much longer after that he  developed an interest for the organ and piano which he began to play as well. Having been exposed to  the vibrant and colorful sound of jazz through one of his music teachers (Willis Coker III), Cal took  up the trumpet to get an overall feel for the creativity that would eventually shape his style. He has  had the pleasure of studying under great jazz pianist; Duke Anderson. Duke departed from this world  before his lessons with Cal were completed. However, there were greater lessons passed to the young  pianist that could never be replaced.