Profile
Composer Multi - Instrumentalist Singer-Songwriter
Sound Recordist / Producer
Art Photographer
Main Instruments
Born May 31, - sometime in the previous century - into a dales family, Graham grew up amidst the beauty of Gouthwaite Nature Reserve in the upper Nidd valley of the North Yorkshire dales, England.
Gouthwaite Nature Reserve
Although his musical skills were naturally present at an early age, he did work at classical piano, the rudiments of music and orchestration for a short while via The Royal School of Music. However, he soon dropped out of studies to find his way around other instruments, and to form his first rock band. Temporarily influenced by the pop scene, he played covers early on. By the mid seventies he searched for more demanding and adventurous territory, and discovered the great names of the progressive rock scene. His enthusiasm was particularly sealed after seeing Rick Wakeman’s concert on ice, at Wembley arena.
In April 1976 he moved from his dales home to work with a band at Manchester. While he was there, he played a few memorable live improvised sessions with Brian Rawson, and the late Melvin Prichard of ‘’Barclay James Harvest’. When he returned from Manchester that year, his itch to be playing other instruments was growing. This became apparent in the autumn with the recording of a single. He played bass, drums, guitar and keyboards on the record, which included the unique keyboard sounds of the melotron and Moog synthesizer. Radio presenter Bob Harris showed some positive interest at the time, but nothing moved.
In 1977 he wrote a Piano Concerto. The work was recorded, but it was never duplicated or archived, the original, and only recording was eventually lost.
Apart from brief excursions with a few bands around the country, the following years were none productive and frustrating. This musical wilderness gave way to the recording of the now deleted ‘’Induced Sleep’’ in 1985. To promote the album he formed ‘’The Graham Spence Rock Ensemble’’ and recruited guitarist Dave Nutbrown who had past associations with Bill Nelson’s ‘’Be-Bop deluxe’’. Barry McDougall was bassist and Trevor Smith percussionist. The album failed to make any impact, unlike the live shows which received excellent reviews. However, this unique line-up was over in September 1986, following the death of the bass player in a road accident while travelling to a gig. Smith left soon afterwards, and although Graham recruited two musicians, the newcomers were never really suitable, and the project was aborted.
He now chose to work totally solo having grown tired of bands and unreliable musicians. In August 1990 he performed his keyboard repertoire at a prestigious U.K. electronic music festival at Derby Assembly rooms. He was one of the days supporting guests to the German composer Peter Baumann, formerly of ‘’Tangerine Dream’’. For the rest of the year, Graham went to live in Cumbria after clinching an acoustic guitar and keyboard session there.
When he returned to the dales in 1991, he wrote his second album ‘’Bridge to the Old Land’’. The recording was published via ‘’Klef recordings’’ and marked the beginning of a regular output, and a new era.
Now with his own studio, in 1992 he recorded ‘’Lone Island Bliss’’, an instrumental album which incorporated his first soundscape compositions. ‘’The Classical Rock Years’’ was recorded in1994, and this time featured a string quartet on three tracks. It was the first album to really show Graham’s full musical skills, not only as a keyboardist and composer, but also with bass, guitar, percussion and studio production.
He recorded ‘’Infinity’’ in 1996, and toured Ireland performing an acoustic set. He also began to create pastel and monochrome art work, and ‘’fine art photography’’. He wrote twelve new acoustic guitar based songs for the recording of ‘’One of These Days’’ in 1997. For the last year of the century, he worked on the second all instrumental – best selling - rock album ‘’Pipe Dreams and Blue Tomorrow’’.
In 2000 he composed ‘’Zenith’’ which was recorded
as a’’ Theme’’ to a low budget film, and took a live
keyboard instrumental set out for selective venues.
He was featured on ‘Sky’’ TV that year, with the viewing
documenting all aspects of his music. This has since introduced thousands
of new people to his music.
The escapists album ‘’Directions for Life’’ was made
in 2002, fitting perfectly into the ‘’Theme’’ area
of his discography. In 2006 ‘’Tir na nOg’’ was recorded,
translating from Gaelic to ‘’The Land of Forever Young’’.
When the recording was over he immediately began working on the debut DVD
‘’Three Sides’’.
Graham is now currently involved with a new DVD production.
Last updated Autumn 2007
