Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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BROWN, T. Graham

(b Anthony Graham Brown, 30 Oct. '54 Atlanta GA) Soulful country singer who came to Nashville from a Southern R&B background to be the real revelation of the New Country Movement of the late '80s. Raised in Arabi GA; played baseball for U of Georgia; with college buddy Dirk Howell played local Athens clubs as Dirk and Tony, then formed band Reo Diamond playing raunchy Outlaw country. This evolved into Graham Brown's Rack of Spam, a soul/R&B band '79. Moved to Nashville '82, landed songwriting contract, sang on demos and jingles for Kraft, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Coca-Cola etc. Signed to Capitol Records '84, making country top ten with 'Tell It Like It Is' '85, no. ones with 'Hell And High Water' '86, 'Don't Go To Strangers' '87 and 'Darlene' '88; plus duet hit 'Don't Go Out' with Tanya Tucker '90. Capitol albums incl. I Tell It Like It Is '86, Brilliant Conversationalist '87, Come As You Were '88, Bumper To Bumper '90, You Can't Take It With You '91. Last chart hit was top 30 'With This Ring' '91. UK critics were enthusiastic about the act but lukewarm about UK album releases: they didn't use his road band and were badly over- produced.