| Graham Dee | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943 London, England |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 1967-present |
Graham Dee (born Graham Davidson, 1943)[1] is an English musician.
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Davidson was born in London in 1943. Davidson has lived his life with a neuromuscular disorder that results in a series of ticks, twitches and spasms which has created a weakness in his neck.
He attended boarding school in Hertfordshire, where he started playing guitar after hearing Lonnie Donegan’s landmark Rock Island Line. He then went on to a college for the disabled where he qualified in gardening but kept up his guitar playing, forming an ad hoc group and playing for scrumpy in the cider pubs of Leatherhead.
While working as a gardener Graham started playing bass semi-pro with a band called The Planets and then returned to the guitar and got a gig backing a crooner called Steve Arlen. Eventually, he joined the Laurie Jay Combo who backed the likes of Gary US Bonds, Memphis Slim, John Lee Hooker and Kenny Lynch and his band appeared in Michael Winner's 1964 'The System' which starred Oliver Reed.
He formed a group called The Quotations and ended up on tour with The Animals and Tommy Tucker. Then played in a band called Bobcats who were the house band at the Scotch of St James club.
Graham was a session musician in the 1960s working alongside the likes of future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (musician).
[2] Phoebe's Flower Shoppe - The Cortinas - Polydor single, 1968 - he was gaining a reputation as a songwriter, producer and musician Graham Dee is responsible for other songs including co-writing credits on John Bromley’s “Weatherman” and novelty songs like “My Daddie is a Baddie.” The Cortinas, according to the reissue of Restless Night, were formed by the brothers Nigel and Paul Griggs in 1963 and morphed into Penny Farthing’s own Octopus in 1968.
Graham also supported John Lee Hooker on the legendary bluesman’s first British shows, produced Les Fleur de Lys (whose line-up included Bournemouth rock alumni Gordon Haskell and Tony Head), backed Elkie Brooks, The Walker Brothers and Carl Perkins, was twice hired by Van Morrison to join Them, filled in for Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd.
During the 1970s he was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome. In the early 70s he went to America with his Japanese wife where he visited the legendary Muscle Shoals studios in Memphis. He also lived in Nashville and Los Angeles.
In 2004 Big Beat Records released[3] You Gotta Believe It's... Sharon Tandy and the tracks 'Daughter Of The Sun', 'The Way She Looks At You , 'He'll Hurt Me', 'Somebody Speaks Your Name' and 'Two Can Make It Together' were co-written by Dee and lyricist Brian Potter. It also included 'Love Is Not A Simple Affair' co-written by Graham Dee and John Bromley.
David Castle co-wrote[4] with Graham a song called[5] 'The Loneliest Man On The Moon' in the late 70s. This appeared on Graham's 1977 solo album Make The Most Of Every Moment.
Some of Graham’s production work has been reissued by cult record label Acid Jazz.