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Canadian singer/songwriter Don Graham's music career started in the late 1960’s with the formation of a trio called Country Fair that included guitarist Robbie MacNeill (Anne Murray/'Singalong Jubilee') and Francine Jarry (Sirocco Singers). The band soon changed its name to the catchier sounding Graham County.
Shortly after engineer Andre Perry recorded John Lennon & Yoko Ono's Bed-In for Peace song "Give Peace A Chance" remotely from a hotel room in Montreal in 1969, Graham County entered Perry's proper studio facility in 1971 and recorded what would eventually be their first single with April Wine producer Bill Hill called "Shelter In The Sky".
The Graham-penned single was released in 1971 on Gamma (London) Records in Canada and on Kapp/MCA in the United States and was a "pick hit" in Cashbox Magazine. A follow up single entitled "Colorado" was also released.
MacNeill left the band and was replaced by Bill Hill (JB & the Playboys) on guitar, Eddy Kaye (Freedom North) drums and Ron Dann (Jesse Winchester, Ian Tyson) on steel guitar. This lineup toured extensively promoting their records and got tight working the popular bar scenes in Canada, where the long hours resulted in six sets a nights, six nights a week. Over their years together the band members have included: George Bowser (Bowser and Blue), Bobby Cohen (Tim Hardin), Les Leroux, Dougie West (The JayBees) and Paul Lifsches, among others.
In 1975, he released a single on Brian Chater's Amber Records called "If You Don't Like It". Soon after he produced Montreal trio PROOF for RCA Records. The result was their single "(Love) A Bitta Memory" b/w "Old Town".
In 1981 Chater helped Graham get signed to Almo/Irving Music as a songwriter (alongside Bryan Adams and Eddie Schwartz).
Over the years, Graham worked behind the scenes producing and working with John Beland (The Flying Burrito Brothers), Hugo Straney (on the 'It's About Time' CD) and Scottish entrepreneur Harry MacGregor at Underground Sound Studio. He also wrote Bobby Curtola's theme song "Born To Sing" in 1993.
Graham continued writing new material - many songs based on his rediscovered Scottish heritage - and finally released a solo CD called 'A Willing Heart' which was produced by Bill Hill.
with notes from Don Graham
Singles
as DON GRAHAM
1975 If You Don't Like It/Wrong Right From The Start (Amber)
with GRAHAM COUNTY
1971 Shelter In The Sky/Soul Crusade (KAPP/MCA - US) K-2144
1971 Colorado/Rocky Road (KAPP/MCA - US) K-2166
Albums
as DON GRAHAM
2010 A Willing Heart (Breakin') 1165
Video
Compilation Tracks
2007 "Heart of a Hero" and "Simple Song of Freedom" on 'Heart of a Hero' (Breakin')
