Career
Born in British Columbia and raised in High River, Alberta, Graham first began playing guitar at age 13. Ross would become Graham"s musical mentor, friend, and recording and touring partner. The previously self-taught Graham started taking formal classical guitar lessons after receiving positive affirmations about his potential in this art form.
Graham placed second at the 2008 Canadian Guitar Festival.
In 2011, Graham returned to the Maritimes, participating in the National Artists program alongside the Canada Games (Winter). Graham"s first album, 2009"s Sunny Side Up, came out when Graham was just 17.
lieutenant comprised five of his first-ever original compositions, alongside tunes by Don Ross, Jerry Reed, M. Doctorate. Pujols, and Mason Williams. In 2012, Graham released an eight-song mini album entitled Indivisibility.
Thanks to a $10,000 grant from Rawlco Radio and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Graham was able to record this in Los Angeles with noted producer C. J. Vanston.
Graham"s next album, titled 12:34, was a collaboration with Don Ross which saw Graham return to the folk guitar genre. lieutenant was recorded in Toronto"s Metalworks Studios). This opportunity was the result of another prize received by Graham.
That poem provided the core of the song "I"m Here (A Song for Canada)", written and recorded by Canadian stars Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) and Stephan Moccio.
Graham was then introduced to CandyRat Records, the independent American record label. They soon signed Graham to a distribution deal, and he was quickly back in the studio to record his first solo album for the label.
The result was Phoenix Rising, released online in November 2013. Graham was recently named one of the top 30 guitarist in the world under the age of 30, by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
Style and technique
Graham"s music is derived from folk, Motown, and blues.
Graham names his key influencers as Don Ross, Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, and Michael Hedges through to blues and rock pioneers like Robert Johnson and Jeff Beck, and classical legends Andrés Segovia and Julian Bream. As a singer and songwriter, he is inspired by The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers.
