Anthony Graham Brown(born October 30, 1954), known professionally asT. Graham Brown,is an Americancountry musicsinger. Active since 1973, Brown has recorded a total of thirteen studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on theBillboardHot Country Songschart. Three of these singles — "Hell and High Water"and"Don't Go to Strangers"from 1986, and"Darlene"from 1988 — reached Number One, and eight more made Top Ten.
T. Graham Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Graham Brown |
| Born | October 30, 1954[1] Arabi, Georgia,U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Capitol,Intersound,Madacy,Compendia, Aspirion, MCM-World Media,RED Distribution |
| Website | www |
In 2024, he achieved one of country music's crowning achievements when he was invited to become amemberof theGrand Ole Opry.Prior to his induction, Brown had made over 300 appearances as a guest performer.
Biography
editAnthony Graham Brown was born in 1954 inArabi, Georgia.[2]He first performed in a duo, Dirk & Tony (1973–75) before founding two more bands, "Reo Diamond" (1975) and "T. Graham Brown's Rack of Spam" (1979). He married his wife Sheila in 1980; they have a son, Acme Geronimo[citation needed]Brown (born 1989).[3]
Musical career
editBrown moved to Nashville in 1982 and found work singing advertisingjinglesfor companies such asMcDonald's,Disneyland,Budweiser,Coors, Stroh's, Almond Joy, Coca-Cola, Sears, Dodge Trucks, Ford, Hardee's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Nashville Network, B.C.Powders, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, and Harrah's.[4]He was also the singing narrator in theTaco Bell"Run For the Border" television spots. Brown also found work as a songwriter for E.M.I. Publishing before signing toCapitol Recordsin 1984. He was withUniversal Music Group Nashvillefor 13 years. His first release for the label, "Drowning in Memories", peaked at No.39 on the Billboard country chart. The title song of his debut album "I Tell It Like It Used To Be" went to No.7, followed by "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" to No.4, giving way to a pair of number ones: "Hell and High Water" and "Don't Go To Strangers".[1]
Brown's first release for the label, "Drowning in Memories", peaked at No. 39 and was never included on an album. Next came the No. 7 "I Tell It Like It Used to Be", the first single from his 1986 album of the same name. Counting its title track, this album accounted for four singles: the No. 3 "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" and two straight Number Ones in "Hell and High Water" and "Don't Go to Strangers".[4]
Brown's second album for the label,Brilliant Conversationalist,followed a year later. Although none of its singles went to Number One, it accounted for three more Top Ten hits in its title track, followed by "She Couldn't Love Me Anymore" and "Last Resort".[5]A third album, 1988'sCome as You Were,produced his third and final Number One in "Darlene".[4]Then came the No. 7 title track and No. 30 "Never Say Never". In early 1990, he sang guest vocals on the multi-artist charity single "Tomorrow's World", as well asTanya Tucker's single "Don't Go Out", from her albumTennessee Woman.
1990 also saw the release of his next album,Bumper to Bumper.This album's lead-off single "If You Could Only See Me Now" went Top Ten with a No. 6 peak, but the other singles — the No. 18 "Moonshadow Road" and No. 53 "I'm Sending One Up for You" — did not fare as well, with the latter being his first single to land outside the Top 40. That same year, he also released an unsuccessful greatest-hits package. His next album,You Can't Take It with You,only accounted for the No. 31 "With This Ring" before he exited Capitol in 1991.
Brown did not record another album until 1998'sWine into Wateron the Intersound label. This album produced four more singles for him, although the No. 44 title track was the highest-charting single from it. The subject matter of the lyrics of the song surrounded Brown's then ongoing fight against alcoholism.[4]He then released two more independent albums:The Next Right Thingin 2003 andThe Presentin 2006.
Brown joined Broadway iconCarol Channingfor a duet of "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree"on her 2012 albumTrue To The Red, White, and Blue.He also recorded a duet of "You Are So Beautiful"withLulu Roman(ofHee Hawfame) for her 2013 albumAt Last.[6]In 2012, Brown appeared on a Country/Gospel album[7]
In 2014, Brown again collaborated with producerMark Carmanto produce theGrammy-nominated album,Forever Changed,featuring guest appearances by industry giantsLeon Russell,The Oak Ridge Boys,Steve Cropper,Jeff and Sheri Easter,The Booth Brothers,Three Bridges,Jimmy Fortune,Sonya Isaacs,andJason Crabb.[8]In July 2014 the first single from the album was released on the MCM World Media Label. The song, "He'll Take Care of You", was written by well known, award-winning songwritersDan Penn,Gary Nicholson,andDonnie Fritts.
Discography
edit- Studio albums
- I Tell It Like It Used to Be(1986)
- Brilliant Conversationalist(1987)
- Come as You Were(1988)
- Bumper to Bumper(1990)
- You Can't Take It with You(1991)
- From a Stronger Place(1996)
- Wine into Water(1998)
- The Next Right Thing(2003)
- The Present(2006)
- Forever Changed(2015)
- Christmas with T. Graham Brown(2015)
- Bare Bones(2020)
Awards and nominations
editGrammy Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Forever Changed | Best Roots Gospel Album | Nominated |
TNN/Music City News Country Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Tanya Tuckerand T. Graham Brown | Vocal Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 1993 | George Jonesand Friends[C] | Nominated |
Academy of Country Music Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | T. Graham Brown | Top New Male Vocalist | Nominated |
| 1991 | Tanya Tucker and T. Graham Brown | Top Vocal Duo of the Year | Nominated |
Country Music Association Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | T. Graham Brown | Horizon Award | Nominated |
| 1990 | "Don't Go Out"[A] | Vocal Event of the Year | Nominated |
| 1993 | "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair"[C] | Won |
^[A]Nominated alongsideTanya Tucker
^[B]George Jones' "Friends" also includes:Vince Gill,Garth Brooks,Travis Tritt,Joe Diffie,Mark Chesnutt,Alan Jackson,Pam Tillis,Patty LovelessandClint Black
^[C]Nominated alongside George Jones and Friends
References
edit- ^abWhitburn, Joel (2008).Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008.Record Research, Inc. p. 66.ISBN978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^Huey, Steve."T. Graham Brown biography".The Albany Journal.Retrieved2007-11-30.
- ^"T. Graham Brown".CMT.Archived fromthe originalon June 7, 2016.Retrieved2018-02-19.
- ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (2003).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music(Third ed.).Virgin Books.p. 87.ISBN1-85227-969-9.
- ^Huey, Steve."allmusic (((T. Graham Brown biography)))".AllMusic.Retrieved2007-11-30.
- ^Record Label (December 7, 2012)."Homesick Entertainment Projects".Homesick Entertainment.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
- ^"Working On A Building: Credits".Allmusic.RetrievedNovember 2,2014.
- ^"Awards Nominations & Winners".Grammy.April 30, 2017.RetrievedOctober 31,2019.
