Calum Graham

Calum Graham
Born (1991-10-29) October 29, 1991
Toronto, ON
Genres Fingerstyle guitar
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 2004–present
Labels CandyRat
Associated acts Don Ross
Website www.calumgraham.com

Calum Graham (born October 29, 1991) is a Canadian, Toronto-based, guitarist and singer-songwriter who has released four albums, won major national music competitions, performed at the Olympic Games in both Vancouver and London,[1] racked up some phenomenal views on YouTube, and was most recently named one of the top 30 guitarists in the world under 30, by Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Career

Born in British Columbia and raised in High River, Alberta, Graham first began playing guitar at age 13. After being introduced to the sounds of the first Don Ross album from a former teacher, Graham instantly knew that playing this genre of music was his calling. 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 2009, Graham was the Grand Prize Winner of the Calgary Stampede Talent Search;[2] he was then eligible to compete in the Canadian Youth Talent Competition in P.E.I., where he placed first as well. In 2011, Graham returned to the Maritimes, participating in the National Artists program alongside the Canada Games (Winter).

When he returned to the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in 2010, Graham placed first, naming him the first teenager to ever win.[3]

Graham's first album, 2009's Sunny Side Up, came out when Graham was just 17. It comprised five of his first-ever original compositions, alongside tunes by Don Ross, Jerry Reed, M. D. 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. It was recorded in Toronto's Metalworks Studios). This opportunity was the result of another prize received by Graham. Back in 2011, he won Canada's Walk of Fame's 'A Song For Canada' competition[4] by writing a poem about Canada. 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. Chosen as the best of 631 contest submissions, it won him a $25,000 prize,[5] plus studio recording time at Metalworks.[6]

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.[7]

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.

Discography

Albums

Solo and duo

References

  1. ↑ "Calum Graham off to London for Olympics". High River Times. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Stampede Talent Search Winner Calum Graham from High River". Highriveronline.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Calum Graham achieves goal at Canadian Guitar F...". High River Times. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Melissa Leong (September 1, 2011). "Alberta guitar virtuoso, 19, wins Canada’s Walk of Fame song contest - National Post". National Post. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Graham adds another notch to his belt". High River Times. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Alberta teen wins Walk of Fame song contest". Cbc.ca. September 1, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "30 Great Guitarists Under 30". Acousticguitar.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.

External links

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