Biography
A love affair with the Soul, Blues and Country that came out of America, together with the music and mysticism of Ireland, underpins the essence of a musical career spanning over four decades, and continues with a heart and love of performing still as young as yesterday. His passionate and heartfelt songs draw from years of experience and influences that cross musical borders.
From an early age Graham was touched by music through singing in Church choirs in his hometown of Watford, and on entering his teenage years listened to his transistor radio late at into night, tuning in to Luxembourg and eventually Pirate Stations including Radio Caroline. Graham says 'The radio was always playing in ourhouse. It's as if music was built into my DNA. Early blues fascinated me but it was The Rolling Stones who made me sit up and listen. There was an energy and rawness that excited me and the songs were accessible and confirmed an empathy between me and rhythm and blues.
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Throughout the 60's Graham performed across the country with a group of friends (Tract) and opened shows for many top names including Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry and Geno Washington, and American touring acts, at established venues including The California Ballroom in Dunstable, Bedfordhire, and The City Hall in St Albans, opening for Amen Corner and The Herd as well as playing various U.S.A.F bases which gave him a grounding and served as an apprenticeship. It was during this period that Graham began writing and had his first experience of recording at Decca Studio's under the guidance of Art Sharp of The Nashville Teens.
The early 70's saw him engaging in the Folk clubs of Hertfordshire and London, retaining residencies at The Pumphouse in Watford and London's Bunjies. Graham also worked as a session singer throughout this period for E.M.I. and United Artists.
Graham's writing began to develop further and he eventually established himself with his own band Peachey Keen playing his own material on the Pub Rock Scene.
Stepping into the 80's and forging a relationship with musicians having a kinship to Soul and Tamla-Motown together with music from The Atlantic Record Label Graham formed The Soul Survivors. The band quickly established themselves a solid reputation in and around theLondon area and gained a long term residency in the capital's Dover Street Wine Bar. The band went on to cover and record Wooly Bully, the Sam The Sham And The Pharoah's classic, with football legend Vinnie Jones. The record was a minor hit and played extensively on the radio being Steve Wright's and Simon Bates' Record of the Week and used on various sports related TV shows.
It was towards the end of this era that Graham developed an interest in writing for the theatre and progressed into writing and directing a musical, Separate Ways performed at 'The Tring Festival and two plays. The first wasThe Orchid, which he took to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and subsequently toured and serialised on BBC Three Counties Radio. Another of his plays, If You See Buddy, toured briefly in the home counties.
Having stockpiled a collection of songs and with renewed energy came the release in the 90's of a solo album with 33 Records. Spirit Within encompassed musical styles that had been soaked up over the years. A rootsy collection of original Soul, Country, Celtic and Folk crossover songs. Doors began to open and several supports slots with established artists came into view, and Festival dates in both the UK and Ireland.
Graham continued the band with several line up changes throughout the decade honing a live sound and developing his material. The release of his album Roll Back The Years, a stripped down recording of guitar and voice accompanied by occasional piano backing, resulted from audience requests from solo acoustic gigs.
In June 2007 Graham made available a DVD of his performance at ‘The North Devon Festival which included a professionally shot film of ‘Saving Grace from the ‘Roll Back The Years album together with a 50 minute set of a gig at ‘The Riverfront Café, Barnstaple, Devon.
2009 new record label ’Global Sessions released ‘Starting Over Again as a single emphasising Graham’s soulful roots.
2010 sees Graham continually moving forward and broadening his horizons working on occassions with Ronnie Johnson former Guitarist and MD with The Legendary Van Morrison
Touring with Shana Morrison and recording a new album for 2011 release.
A passionate and soulful vocalist, writing and recording and working alongside some of the finest musicians around. His workload and continued interest in his recordings and live work is testimony to a great musical talent.
Taken from www.grahamrobins.com
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.