Born Graham Davidson on March 2nd 1943 in London’s Whitechapel, Graham Dee was to follow in the footsteps of a long theatrical family tradition of touring singers and musicians dating back to the Victorian era.
Ida Parker was one such family member who had a long performing career as an entertainer in the late 19th Century. The earliest record in ‘The Stage’ appears in 1893 when she was only 13 years of age.
Knowledgeable professionals will remember Graham Dee from the sixties when they compared his guitar work with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. By groups he played with like Steve Marriott and the Moments, The Walker Brothers, Them, The Laurie Jay Combo and his own band, The Quotations (pictured). For the songs he wrote (mainly with Brian Potter) for The Applejacks, Dave Berry, The Lettermen and Bobby Vinton. By the stars he accompanied like Carl Perkins, Memphis Slim and John Lee Hooker or the TV shows he appeared on like ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ and ‘Ready Steady Go’. Known by his contemporaries as Mr Tin Pan Alley, he was a pivotal figure on the London sixties music scene.
PolydorPolydor/Atlantic Records
From the mid-sixties to early 70s, Graham worked as in-house producer at Polydor/Atlantic Records under Frank Fenter, becoming effectively, Atlantic’s ‘soul link’ with Polydor. Working with such artists as Fleur de Lys, Sharon Tandy, The Fantastics, Mike Berry and Maxine Silverberg (pictured), he produced a distinctly British soul sound.
United Artists, Los Angeles:
There followed a short break in the USA doing session work and writing with Philip
Mitchell at the renowned, ‘Muscles Shoals ATV PublishingSound Studios in Alabama. In 1975, Graham signed a 3‑year contract with United Artists Music Publishing in LA as a staff songwriter. He then signed to ATV Publishing in London (pictured) and New York in the same capacity. In 1977, he recorded and co-produced the album ‘Make the Most of Every Moment’ with Gerry Shury and in 1978 another album, ‘Somethin’ Else’, co-produced with Richard Niles. Both were released on the Pye label.
In the early to mid 80s, Graham continued to compose with lyricists such as Sara Blumenstein and David Kleinman, mainly in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles.
Ranch work, Martial Arts and Forestry:
Ranch workIn the late 1980s, Graham decided to hang up his guitar following a series of personal tragedies. He spent time working as a ranch hand in Wyoming, went on to practice Martial Arts in Japan before returning to Britain to work in forestry.
He soon became involved in clearing the deluge caused by the hurricane of 1987 and stayed in the Suffolk/ Norfolk area as a forester (pictured) for the next few years.
The Alibi and Children in Need:
odd manIn the mid-1990s, it happened by chance that Graham was in Norwich and wandered into ‘The Alibi’ bar. The owner, Danny Keen, recognised him from the sixties London music scene and asked him to play in the bar that evening. After hesitating for a moment, Graham agreed and got his new friend, jazz bass guitarist and double bass player, Dave Holgate to do the gig with him. Word of the duo soon spread and other musicians came to join in.
Pretty soon The Alibi became the place to go in Norwich for great music. Whilst gigging at The Alibi in 1997, Graham was approached by BBC Look East to perform for Children in Need on TV, which he gladly did. He had previously composed a Christmas song with Sara Blumenstein in New York called ‘I Remember Christmas’ and decided to record the song for the children’s charity.
ticketHe joined forces with the Norwich Cathedral Choristers and The Salvation Army and released a single with all profits going to Children in Need.
Then in the year 2000 he went on to release a 3‑track CD entitled ‘The Bottom Line’ on the Sugabeat/Elkin Music label.
Graham Dee ConnectionThe Graham Dee Connection:
In 2009, Graham was living in Dorset and was approached by record collector, Damian Jones. He wanted to know if Graham had any tapes of his unreleased productions from the 60s and 70s. connectionGraham Dee Connection‘Damian almost broke down in tears when I told him that I had scrapped most of my tapes because of lack of space (pictured). Luckily, I had kept a few and he contacted Acid Jazz Records – a label that specialises in soul, jazz, funk and mod music. They wanted to release 3 albums of my music starting with The Graham Dee Connection: The 60s Collection, which was released in 2011. The EP ‘Graham Dee’s hitsville London’ followed in 2012’.
Graham Dee: 2013
Inspired by the recent release of some of his compositions and productions, Graham took up his guitar and began composing songs for a new album.
