Graham Alexander (musician)

Graham Alexander (born May 2, 1989 in Camden, New Jersey) is an American singer-songwriter, entertainer, and entrepreneur known best for his solo music career and for his roles in the Broadway shows Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles and Let It Be[1] and as the entrepreneur who founded a new incarnation of the Victor Talking Machine Co. in Camden, N.J.[2][3][4]

Graham Alexander
Graham Alexander, American singer-songwriter, entertainer, and entrepreneur
Background information
Born (1989-05-02) May 2, 1989
Camden, New Jersey
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, entertainer, entrepreneur
Associated actsGraham Alexander
Websitewww.graham-alexander.net

Early life and career

Graham Alexander became interested in music when he and a friend picked a music documentary VHS out of the trash.[5] In middle school, he founded his first band, The Roadrunners, which developed a following in the New York City and Philadelphia areas.[6] Alexander wrote award-winning songs for the band's albums Breakaway (2006) and The Roadrunners: Cellar Sessions (2003) under an independent label deal. The band later split and Graham moved onto writing for solo projects as well as for soundtrack material. He was also the lead character actor for The Beatles: Rock Band.[7]

Music career

Graham began writing and recording his first full-length studio album in 2009.[5] His debut album[8] was released December 6, 2011 and, weeks after, his song "Biggest Fan" was featured on Spotify's "Top Tracks of 2011 – Picked by Users" playlist. In 2012, he set out on a tour with his band and played events such as the Non-COMMvention[9] in Philadelphia and LarkFEST in Albany, NY.[10] Shortly after, he began work on his follow up-album, spending time writing and working in the studio.[11]

In Spring 2013, Graham and his band embarked on a tour including stops at the Abbey Road on the River Festival, the Black Potato Music Festival, Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning, and Musikfest.[1]

Graham released his second album, Repeat Deceiver, through the revived Victor Talking Machine Co. label in 2014.[12] Its first single of the same name hit national airwaves in February 2015 prompting a small radio tour with stops including Albany, N.Y. and Ocean City, Md.[13]

On March 27, 2016 Graham's song "I'm A Man" made its television debut on Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy the animated series on Disney XD. It was featured in "We Are the World Tree" Season 1, Episode 16[14] and "Fox on the Run" Season 1, Episode 20.[15]

Entrepreneurial endeavors

A resident of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Alexander first became interested in first became interested in Camden's RCA Victor complex when passing the facility on the train as a child.[16]

In 2008, Graham began his own company which consisted of his studio, production, rehearsal and office facilities in Camden County, New Jersey. The company, LAIR Media (Licensed American Independent Recording) was the controlling entity of the recording and production of Graham's debut release in 2011 and outside projects. In 2011, LAIR Media moved its expanding production facilities to a 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) factory in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey[17] where the company continued to grow and expand into video production, product development, and an independent record label. After purchasing several brands and assets from the GE-cast-off Radio Corporation of America portfolio at auction,[18] LAIR Media merged its assets with the new acquisitions, adopted the newly acquired Radio Corporation of America corporate identity, established the Victor Talking Machine Co. record label,[19] and Camden, Victrola, His Master's Voice, and Little Nipper imprints.[20]

In 2015, Graham opened additional offices for Victor Talking Machine Co. in a former bank building in Berlin, N.J. "The Vault at Victor Records" houses the master recordings, marketing materials, and documents of Victor. It also serves as a performing arts venue with music acts weekly.[21]

Discography
  • Graham Alexander, Vol. 1 (EP), July 2011
  • Graham Alexander, December 2011
  • Graham Alexander – Japan Release, September 2013
  • "Long Way Home" (single) – December 2013
  • Repeat Deceiver, December 2014

Broadway work

In 2010, he was part of the Broadway cast of the jukebox musical RAIN,[22] which premiered at the Neil Simon Theater and later moved to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City. The production won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue in 2011.[23] Years later, he was cast in the same role in a similar jukebox musical, LET IT BE, at the St. James Theatre in New York City and praised for his work in the role.[24]

References
  1. "Graham Alexander". Graham Alexander. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. Darrow, Chuck (January 2016). "Person to Watch: Graham Alexander" (Vol. 16, Issue 1). SJ Magazine.
  3. http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2017/03/23/8-listening-rooms-sj-music-fans/99448104/
  4. http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/Music-impresario-has--found-the-future----in-Camdens-past.html
  5. Skoufalos, Matt (September 5, 2011). "Young Haddonfield Musician's Career Comes Together on Broadway". Haddonfield-Haddon Township Patch.
  6. Rothenberg, Adam. "Graham Alexander". Call Me Adam.
  7. http://blog.musoscribe.com/?p=2991
  8. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/graham-alexander/id486617947
  9. "Preview: 12th Annual Non-COMMvention in Philadelphia". Tristate Indie.
  10. "LarkFEST to get underway in downtown Albany on Saturday". ABC News10. September 14, 2012.
  11. McElhiney, Brian (March 28, 2013). "Alexander draws audience of all ages". The Daily Gazette.(subscription required)
  12. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/repeat-deceiver/id951768116
  13. http://daily.plaympe.com/graham-alexander-repeat-deceiver/
  14. "We Are the World Tree". Guardians of the Galaxy. March 27, 2016. Disney XD.
  15. "Fox On The Run". Guardians of the Galaxy. June 26, 2016. Disney XD.
  16. Darrow, Chuck. "Person to Watch: Graham Alexander Reviving the Victor music legacy", South Jersey Magazine, January 2016. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Two decades later, Alexander, 26, a Camden native now living in Haddonfield, not only knows the story of RCA Victor and its forebear, the Victor Talking Machine Co., but he has taken it upon himself to revive the brand that was once a household name."
  17. Hunter, Liz (April 2016). "Full Circle". South Jersey Magazine. 13 (1): 28–31.
  18. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/12/22/first-note-is-always-the-hardest-part-says-philadelphia-music-entrepreneur/
  19. Paolino, Tammy (December 11, 2015). "Resurrecting Victor Legacy". Courier Post.
  20. http://thekey.xpn.org/2014/11/25/camdens-graham-alexander-discusses-inspiration-childhood-mindset-going-new-album-victor-talking-machine-co/
  21. Crimmins, Peter (November 24, 2015). "Encore for iconic Camden recording company — with a new spin". Newsworks – WHYY.
  22. http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Graham-Alexander-to-play-The-Linda-4391733.php
  23. Lamar, Andre (November 8, 2012). "Graham Alexander to debut at the Kennett Flash". Dover Post.
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/theater/reviews/let-it-be-a-broadway-tribute-to-the-beatles.html?_r=0
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