Jon Dee Graham
Encyclopedia
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Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He was born February 28, 1959. Graham was named the Austin Musician of the Year during the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
(SXSW) music conference in 2006. He was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame three times: as a solo artist in 2000, again in 2008 as a member of The Skunks
The Skunks
The Skunks are a three-piece rock band formed in 1977 in Austin, Texas.-History:The band debuted in early 1978 and quickly became a mainstay of the Austin, Texas scene, playing not only venues known for having an open-minded clientele, but clubs whose audiences crossed the spectrum, including the...
, and again in 2009 as a member of the True Believers.
Graham's current musical projects include the Hobart Brothers, a collaboration with Freedy Johnston
Freedy Johnston
Freedy Johnston is a New York City-based singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas.Having scored several minor hits since the early 1990s, Johnston's songs are often about troubled loners, and cover topics like heartbreak, alienation and disappointment...
and Susan Cowsill
Susan Cowsill
Susan Claire Cowsill is a musician, vocalist and songwriter. She is the youngest member of The Cowsills and the only daughter of parents Bud and Barbara Cowsill.-The Cowsills:...
. Their album, "At Least We Have Each Other," is set for a 2011 release.
The Skunks' lineup featured Jesse Sublett
Jesse Sublett
Jesse Sublett is a musician and writer from Austin, Texas. As a musician he is best-known for his long-running rock trio, The Skunks...
on bass and vocals and Bill Blackmon on drums. Founded in 1978, Graham joined as their new guitarist (replacing Eddie Munoz, who departed to join The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls are an American rock band formed in Paramount, California in 1978.-Formation:Formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Peter Case , the Plimsouls began as a trio in 1978 which included Case, bassist Dave Pahoa and drummer Louie Ramírez...
) in 1979. Graham's guitar can be heard on the band's live CD, “Live: Earthquake Shake, released in 2000.
The True Believers, which included Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
and his brother, Javier Escovedo, are widely considered by critics to be seminal figures in the fusion of literary songwriting and punk rock, a sound often referred to as alt.country.
Jon Dee Graham went on to play with John Doe
John Doe
The name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
, Exene Cervenka
Exene Cervenka
Exene Cervenka is an American writer, musician and artist, most famous as the co-lead vocalist of the Los Angeles punk rock band X.-Career:...
, James McMurtry
James McMurtry
James McMurtry is a Texas rock/Texas Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and occasional actor...
, Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson is an Austin, Texas-based folk musician. She is the daughter of songwriter and folk musician Terry Gilkyson and Jane Gilkyson. She is the sister of guitarist Tony Gilkyson, who played with the Los Angeles-based bands Lone Justice and X...
, Kelly Willis
Kelly Willis
Kelly Willis is an American country music singer-songwriter, whose music has been described as contemporary country, alternative country and new traditionalist.-Early life:...
, John Hiatt
John Hiatt
John Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
, Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked is the stage name of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American singer-songwriter.-History:Shocked received her first international exposure in Europe, particularly Britain, with her debut album The Texas Campfire Tapes .Her first U.S...
, Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin, born Patricia Jean Griffin, March 16, 1964, is an American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. She is especially known for her down-home crafting of songs and her connection to musicians including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, and the Dixie Chicks, who have played with...
, Calvin Russell
Calvin Russell (musician)
Calvin Russell was an American blues rock/roots rock singer-songwriter and guitarist.Born Calvert Russell Kosler, at the age of twelve he started to learn guitar and at thirteen joined a band called 'The Cavemen'. In 1989 he met Patrick Mathe of the French record label New Rose...
, and Lone Justice
Lone Justice
Lone Justice was an American country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee.-Early era:They began their career as part of the L.A. cowpunk scene of the 1980s. Lone Justice was inspired by Hedgecock and McKee's mutual affection for rockabilly and country music...
.
His music has been featured in soundtracks such as Ladder 49
Ladder 49
Ladder 49 is a 2004 film about the heroics of a Baltimore fireman Jack Morrison, who is trapped inside a warehouse fire and his recollection of the events that got him to that point. The movie is a celebration of the firefighting profession and the life that comes with it...
and Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
. In 1992, Patty Smyth
Patty Smyth
Patty Smyth is an American rock and roll musician. She first enjoyed mainstream success in 1982 as lead singer of the band Scandal and later scored a solo #2 hit with her song "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough"...
covered Graham's song, "One Moment to Another" on her album, Patty Smyth.
To date, Graham has released seven albums: Escape from Monster Island (1997, Freedom Records); Summerland (1999, New West Records
New West Records
New West Records is a record label based in Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and Athens, Georgia. It was established in 1998, and has been home to several indie rock and alternative country bands as well as representing the PBS show Austin City Limits...
); Hooray for the Moon (2002, New West Records); The Great Battle (2004, New West Records); Full (2006, Freedom Records); Swept Away (Live Soundtrack) (2008, Freedom Records) and It's Not As Bad As It Looks (2010, Freedom Records). His record, The Great Battle, was produced by Charlie Sexton
Charlie Sexton
Charles Wayne Sexton is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for the 1985 hit Beat's So Lonely and as the guitarist for Bob Dylan's backing band from 1999 to 2002 and since 2009...
.
Graham's music generally explores the struggles adults face as they work to raise their children, maintain marriages and jobs, and grapple with the quick passage of time. Despite the heaviness of such themes, Graham's music is infused with a strong sense of the joys of life and the need to remain optimistic.
Graham's second child, Willie, suffers from a chronic, rare childhood disease called Legg-Perthes. In 2005, the Austin music community banded together in an effort to raise money for Willie's treatment. The resulting benefit concert at Austin's Continental Club became a CD/DVD release called "Big Sweet Life: The Songs of Jon Dee Graham." Musicians like Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
, Bob Schneider
Bob Schneider
Bob Schneider is an Austin, Texas-based musician and artist. He currently resides in Bee Cave, Texas.- Early career :...
, David Garza
Davíd Garza
Davíd Garza is an Austin-based, American singer-songwriter who infuses rock and pop with a Latin feel and whose vocal style draws comparisons to Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley, Donovan and Robert Plant.-Biography:...
, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard is an American Texas Country singer and songwriter.-Early life:Hubbard grew up in southeastern town of Hugo, Oklahoma. His family moved to Oak Cliff in south Dallas, Texas in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey, who had his own band at the time...
, Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan is an English keyboard instrumentalist, best known as a member of the English rock bands Small Faces and Faces.-Small Faces and Faces:...
, and Steve Poltz
Steve Poltz
Steve Poltz is a Canadian-born American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in San Diego, California. He is a founding member of the indie-rock band The Rugburns and is best known for co-writing the #2 Jewel song "You Were Meant for Me"...
all contributed by covering Graham's tunes. An additional benefit concert, held the same night at the Saxon Pub, featured performances by Roky Erickson and the Skunks. Graham commuted the short distance between clubs to participate in both shows.
Over the years, Graham has been backed by Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
, Rafael Gayol
Rafael Gayol
Rafael Bernardo Gayol is a drummer, percussionist, songwriter, singer and actor.Born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles, California, he has worked as a drummer/percussionist/vocalist recording and touring with such diverse artists as Leonard Cohen, Doll Congress, BoDeans, Sun 60, Charlie...
, Mark Andes
Mark Andes
Mark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
, Michael Hardwick, and Andrew Duplantis, who went on to play in Son Volt
Son Volt
Son Volt is an alternative country group formed by Jay Farrar in 1994 after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo.-History:The group formed after Farrar met Jim and Dave Boquist during the final Uncle Tupelo tour. Together with former Uncle Tupelo drummer Mike Heidorn, the band rehearsed and...
with Jay Farrar
Jay Farrar
Jay Farrar is an American songwriter and musician currently based in St. Louis, Missouri. A veteran of two critically acclaimed music groups, Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt, he began his solo music career in 2001...
.
In early 2006, production began on a feature-length documentary on Graham and his music. Entitled, Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away, it was released on DVD on May 20, 2008. The film was directed by a friend of Graham's, Mark Finkelpearl, who happens to be a documentary television professional with a background on the staffs of the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
and National Geographic Television.
In August 2008, Graham underwent emergency surgery after being injured in a one-car accident.
Almost every Wednesday night, fans can see Graham live at the Continental Club on Austin's South Congress Avenue
South Congress
South Congress is a neighborhood located on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, United States. It is also a nationally-known shopping and cultural district famous for its many eclectic small retailers, restaurants, music and art venues and, more recently, food trucks.South Congress begins at...
where he traditionally plays a set at 10pm, just before James McMurtry
James McMurtry
James McMurtry is a Texas rock/Texas Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and occasional actor...
goes on at midnight.
Discography
- It's Not As Bad As It Looks - 2010 (Freedom)
- Swept Away (Music from the documentary film by Mark Finkelpearl) -- 2008 (Freedom)
- FULL - 2006 (Freedom)
- Big Sweet Life: The Songs of Jon Dee Graham - 2005 (Freedom)
- First Bear On The Moon - 2005 (Freedom)
- The Great Battle - 2004 (New West)
- Hooray For The Moon - 2002 (New West)
- Summerland - 1999 (New West)
- Escape From Monster Island - 1997 (Freedom)
More discography: guitar, producer, vocals
- 1986 "Blue City", Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, Guitar - 1986 "True Believers", True Believers, Guitar, Guitar (Steel), Vocals
- 1990 "Meet John Doe", John DoeJohn DoeThe name "John Doe" is used as a placeholder name in a legal action, case or discussion for a male party, whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld for legal reasons. The name is also used to refer to a male corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown...
, Guitar - 1990 "Running Sacred", Exene CervenkaExene CervenkaExene Cervenka is an American writer, musician and artist, most famous as the co-lead vocalist of the Los Angeles punk rock band X.-Career:...
, Guitar (Electric) - 1992 Edge of the Valley, Terry GarlandTerry GarlandTerry Garland is an American blues guitarist, songwriter and singer. Allmusic journalist, Niles J...
Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Guitar, Arranger, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel), Tambourine, Lap Steel Guitar - 1992 Forever Simon Bonney Dobro, Lap Steel Guitar, Bottleneck Guitar
- 1993 13 Ribs Susan VoelzSusan VoelzSusan Voelz is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musicians....
Bass, Guitar, Vocals (bckgr) - 1993 Hasta La Victoria! The Silos
- 1994 Adequate Desire Michael Hall Lap Steel Guitar
- 1994 "Hard Road", The True Believers, Guitar, Guitar (Steel), Vocals
- 1994 Susan Across the Ocean The Silos Lap Steel Guitar
- 1995 Can O' Worms Dan Stuart Guitar, Vocals, Lap Steel Guitar
- 1997 Anchorless Kacy CrowleyKacy CrowleyKacy Crowley is an American musician and singer-songwriter. A New England native, she currently resides in Austin, Texas.-Early life:Born in Northampton, Massachusetts, her mother was a piano teacher and her father was a construction worker. Her family soon relocated to Connecticut, where Kacy...
Guitar (Electric) - 1997 Dream of the Dog Calvin RussellCalvin Russell (musician)Calvin Russell was an American blues rock/roots rock singer-songwriter and guitarist.Born Calvert Russell Kosler, at the age of twelve he started to learn guitar and at thirteen joined a band called 'The Cavemen'. In 1989 he met Patrick Mathe of the French record label New Rose...
Guitar, Arranger, Producer, Lap Steel Guitar - 1997 Glad I'm a Girl Various Artists Bass, Guitar, Vocals (bckgr)
- 1997 Too Much Is Not Enough Too Much TV Slide Guitar
- 1997 Way Things Are Polk, Barton and Towhead Lap Steel Guitar
- 1998 "One Possible Explanation" Roberto Moreno, Wicked Lead Guitar, Lap Steel, Vocals
- 1998 Anchorless [Bonus Track] Kacy Crowley Guitar (Electric)
- 1998 Crooked Mile Trish Murphy Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Multi Instruments, Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar (Baritone)
- 1998 Gogitchyershinebox The GourdsThe GourdsThe Gourds are an American alternative country band that formed in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1994.-Career:Primarily evolving from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, The Gourds original line-up consisted of Kevin Russell , Jimmy Smith , Claude Bernard , and Charlie Llewellin...
, Guitar - 1998 Plebeians The Plebeians Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar
- 1998 Stadium Blitzer The GourdsThe GourdsThe Gourds are an American alternative country band that formed in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1994.-Career:Primarily evolving from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, The Gourds original line-up consisted of Kevin Russell , Jimmy Smith , Claude Bernard , and Charlie Llewellin...
Lap Steel Guitar - 1998 This Is My Life Calvin Russell Guitar
- 1998 Uprooted: The Best of Roots Country Singer/Songwriter Various Artists Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar
- 1998 We All Fall Down Gerald Bair Guitar (Electric)
- 1999 What I Deserve Kelly WillisKelly WillisKelly Willis is an American country music singer-songwriter, whose music has been described as contemporary country, alternative country and new traditionalist.-Early life:...
, Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar - 2000 And All The Colors... Ian Moore Lap Steel Guitar
- 2000 Bolsa de Agua The GourdsThe GourdsThe Gourds are an American alternative country band that formed in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1994.-Career:Primarily evolving from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, The Gourds original line-up consisted of Kevin Russell , Jimmy Smith , Claude Bernard , and Charlie Llewellin...
, Lap Steel Guitar - 2000 Lunette Jim Roll Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar
- 2000 Young Guitar Slingers: Texas Blues Evolution Various Artists Lap Steel Guitar
- 2001 "Attacks" Roberto Moreno, Lap Steel
- 2001 Earthquake Shake Skunks Guitar
- 2001 Midnight Pumpkin Toni Price Lap Steel Guitar
- 2001 Slinky Presents Superclub DJ's Guy Ornadel Producer
- 2002 Buttermilk & Rifles Kevin Russell's Junker Lap Steel Guitar
- 2002 Electric Jack Ingram Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
- 2002 Everybody Loves a Winner Jeff Klein Guitar (Electric), Choir, Chorus
- 2002 From Hell to Breakfast: A Taste of Sugar Hill's Te Various Artists Lap Steel Guitar
- 2003 Growl Ray Wylie Hubbard Vocals, Lap Steel Guitar
- 2003 Patricia Vonne [Bandolera] Patricia Vonne Lap Steel Guitar
- 2004 Boogie Man Omar & The Howlers Guitar
- 2004 Land of Milk and Honey Eliza Gilkyson Guitar (Electric), Harmony Vocals
- 2004 Moodswing Kacy Crowley Guitar, Producer, Mixing, Mando-Guitar
- 2004 "Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo", Various Artists, Guitar, Vocals
- 2004 "Resentments", The Resentments Guitar (Acoustic), Dobro, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Organ (Pump), Lap Steel Guitar, Group Member
- 2005 Guitars & Castanets Patricia Vonne Lap Steel Guitar
- 2006 Big Star Small World Various Artists Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar
- 2006 "Boxing Mirror", Alejandro EscovedoAlejandro EscovedoAlejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
, Guitar - 2006 Tales from the Tavern, Vol. 1
- 2009 Live In Europe CD and DVD (James McMurtry), Guitar on Laredo
Reviews
- Loar, Cristel. Jon Dee Graham: Jon Dee Graham Swept Away (DVD) (A Rock and Roll Documentary) in PopMattersPopMattersPopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, May 30, 2008. - Reed, Aaron. 'Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away' captures Austin musician in Austin360.com, May 23, 2008.
- Wynn, Ron. Riffs: Getting swept away with Jon Dee Graham in The City PaperThe City PaperThe City Paper is a free weekly newspaper serving Nashville, Tennessee. The City Paper began publication as a daily paper on November 1, 2000, providing competition to The Tennessean, which was the only daily in town after the Nashville Banner closed in 1998...
, May 20, 2008.