Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Graham L Hall is a proud Geordie who now lives in Yorkshire. His musical journey began in the mid-1960s, playing guitar and organ in several bands performing blues, rhythm and blues and soul. His interest in country music developed in the early 1970s after hearing a track by Waylon Jennings.
Since then, Graham has performed with a number of country bands in the UK and overseas, including appearances in Spain and Holland, as well as a particularly unusual engagement at the Officers’ Club at the Maze Prison in Belfast. He also occasionally steps in as a last-minute replacement musician.
Graham has always had a fascination with radio. Around 40 years ago, he joined a small local hospital radio station, presenting a country music programme and helping with the engineering, drawing on his professional background as an electrician. It was there that he first met UKCountryRadio.com founder Allan Watkiss. He subsequently moved to a larger hospital radio station, where he became both engineer and Chief Executive Officer.
Graham has been part of UKCountryRadio.com since the station launched in September 2007, something of which he is particularly proud.
Over the years, he has worked for Warner Holidays, P&O Cruises, the Rank Organisation and Tony Best Leisure, as well as at numerous country music festivals, nightclubs, hotels and other events. His roles have included DJ, compere, stage manager and sound engineer.
Graham has also been involved with several small local radio stations, but one of his longest-standing associations is with the legendary Radio Caroline. Having been a fan of the original station, he eventually had the opportunity to visit its ship and carry out some work on board. He went on to present programmes for Radio Caroline and has remained closely involved with the station for around 35 years.
His musical tastes are wide-ranging, embracing blues, traditional rhythm and blues and alternative country, often described as Americana. Among his favourite artists are Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Rodney Crowell, Tom Russell and Dave Alvin.
Graham’s debut album brings together a selection of songs he has played and sung over the years, from his earliest days as a musician through to more recent favourites. It reflects his lifelong enthusiasm for music and the many influences that have shaped his musical journey.
Graham L Hall’s debut album, Roots, brings together 11 songs that reflect the musical influences and experiences of a career stretching back to the 1960s. Rather than concentrating on one particular style, the album draws on Graham’s longstanding enthusiasm for country, blues, rhythm and blues and rock.
The selection includes well-known songs such as Proud Mary, Route 66, After Midnight and Down on the Corner, alongside blues favourites including Key to the Highway, Going Down and Big Boss Man. There’s also a strong country influence, with songs including Lonesome, On’ry and Mean and Out in California.
The album’s title reflects Graham’s musical background. These are songs he has enjoyed playing and singing at different stages of his career, from his early days performing in blues and R&B bands through to his many years playing country music.
For Graham, Roots is an opportunity to revisit some of the music that has remained important to him over the decades, bringing together different styles and influences on his first album. It offers listeners an insight into the musical tastes of a performer and broadcaster who has spent much of his life championing the music he enjoys.
