T. Graham Brown

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For the Scottish mountaineer and physiologist, see Thomas Graham Brown.
T. Graham Brown
A head shot of singer T. Graham Brown
Brown in 2015
Background information
Birth nameAnthony Graham Brown
Born (1954-10-30) October 30, 1954 (age 69)[1]
Arabi, Georgia, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1985–present
LabelsCapitol, Intersound, Madacy, Compendia, Aspirion, MCM-World Media, RED Distribution
Websitewww.tgrahambrown.com

Anthony Graham Brown (born October 30, 1954), known professionally as T. Graham Brown, is an American country music singer. Active since 1973, Brown has recorded a total of thirteen studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 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.

In 2024, he achieved one of country music's crowning achievements when he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Prior to his induction, Brown had made over 300 appearances as a guest performer.

Biography[edit]

Anthony Graham Brown was born in 1954 in Arabi, 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[edit]

Brown moved to Nashville in 1982 and found work singing advertising jingles for companies such as McDonald'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 the Taco Bell "Run For the Border" television spots. Brown also found work as a songwriter for E.M.I. Publishing before signing to Capitol Records in 1984. He was with Universal Music Group Nashville for 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's Come 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 as Tanya Tucker's single "Don't Go Out", from her album Tennessee 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's Wine into Water on 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 Thing in 2003 and The Present in 2006.

Brown joined Broadway icon Carol Channing for a duet of "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree" on her 2012 album True To The Red, White, and Blue. He also recorded a duet of "You Are So Beautiful" with Lulu Roman (of Hee Haw fame) for her 2013 album At Last.[6] In 2012, Brown appeared on a Country/Gospel album[7]

In 2014, Brown again collaborated with producer Mark Carman to produce the Grammy-nominated album, Forever Changed, featuring guest appearances by industry giants Leon Russell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Cropper, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Booth Brothers, Three Bridges, Jimmy Fortune, Sonya Isaacs, and Jason 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 songwriters Dan Penn, Gary Nicholson, and Donnie Fritts.

Discography[edit]

Main article: T. Graham Brown discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Organization Award Nominee/Work Result
1986 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Male Vocalist T. Graham Brown Nominated
1987 Country Music Association Awards Horizon Award T. Graham Brown Nominated
1990 Country Music Association Awards Vocal Event of the Year "Don't Go Out" with Tanya Tucker Nominated
1991 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo of the Year Tanya Tucker and T. Graham Brown Nominated
TNN/Music City News Awards Vocal Collaboration of the Year T. Graham Brown and Tanya Tucker Nominated
1993 TNN/Music City News Awards Vocal Collaboration of the Year George Jones and Friends[A] Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Vocal Event of the Year "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" with George Jones and Friends[A] Won

^[A] Other artists featured on the song "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" include: Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, Joe Diffie, Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Mark Chesnutt, Patty Loveless and Clint Black

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve. "T. Graham Brown biography". The Albany Journal. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  3. ^ "T. Graham Brown". CMT.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  4. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 87. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  5. ^ Huey, Steve. "allmusic (((T. Graham Brown biography)))". AllMusic. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  6. ^ Record Label (December 7, 2012). "Homesick Entertainment Projects". Homesick Entertainment. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  7. ^ "Working On A Building : Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  8. ^ "Awards Nominations & Winners". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2019.

External links[edit]

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