Biography Davey Graham

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 anji / angi
1.3 folk fame
1.4 retirement
1.5 rediscovery , death

biography
early life

graham born in market bosworth, leicestershire, england, guyanese mother , scottish father. although never had music theory lessons, learnt play piano , harmonica child , took classical guitar @ age of 12. teenager influenced folk guitar player steve benbow, had travelled army , played guitar style influenced moroccan music.

anji / angi

at age of 19, graham wrote famous composition, acoustic guitar solo angi (sometimes spelled anji : see below). colin harper credits graham single-handedly inventing concept of folk guitar instrumental. angi , named after girlfriend, appeared on debut ep 3/4 ad in april 1962. tune spread through generation of aspiring guitarists, changing spelling went. before record released, bert jansch had learnt 1961 tape borrowed len partridge. jansch included on 1965 debut album angie . spelling anji became more used after appeared in way on simon & garfunkel s 1966 album sounds of silence , anji chicken shack recorded 1969 100 ton chicken album.

anji became rite of passage many acoustic finger-style guitarists. arlen roth has recorded anji on 2 separate albums of his.

some other musicians of note have covered anji include: john renbourn, gordon giltrap, clive carroll , anarchist group chumbawamba, used guitar piece basis anti-war song jacob s ladder (not in name) .

angi second track on first cd of topic records 70 year anniversary boxed set 3 score , ten.

folk fame

davy graham came attention of guitarists through appearance in 1959 broadcast of bbc tv arts series monitor, produced ken russell , titled hound dogs , bach addicts: guitar craze, in played acoustic instrumental version of cry me river . during 1960s, graham released string of albums of music around world in kinds of genres. 1964 s folk, blues , beyond , following year s collaboration folk singer shirley collins, folk roots, new routes, cited among influential album releases. large life , twice natural includes cover of joni mitchell s both sides, alongside unprecedented explorations of eastern modes , scales played in faustian takes on gibson j45 steel string guitar.

his continuous touring of world beat mystic traveller, picking , recording different styles of music guitar, has resulted in many musicians crediting him founding world music. however, though graham recorded in variety of genres , loved play oud, no purist, absorbing influences own ever-expanding conception of possibilities of guitar music. quizzed, instance, on introduction of chord progression arabic maqam, amiable retort effect that, if felt , sounded alright, why shouldn t he?

retirement

graham married american singer holly gwinn in late 1960s , recorded albums holly kaleidosope , godington boundary in 1970, shortly before gwinn had return usa , unable follow her, because of visa problem due marijuana conviction. later described himself having been casualty of self-indulgence , becoming heroin addict in imitation of jazz heroes. during period, taught acoustic guitar , undertook charity work, particularly various mental health charities. several years on executive council of mind , involved time mystic osho (bhagwan shree rajneesh).

in 1976 recorded moody, private pressing remains collectible vinyl record owing moody nature , rarity. recorded 2 further groundbreaking albums kicking mule, 1978 s complete guitarist , 1980 s dance 2 people. continued play concerts, dedicated main thrust of life studying languages; fluent in gaelic, french, , greek , hold own in turkish. collected poems , folk songs , regale neighbours. after time became increasingly disinhibited. penultimate album playing in traffic entitled frustrated trying learn bach in noise of 11 lyme st, camden boatyard used operate on canal outside bedroom.

rediscovery , death

he subject of 2005 bbc radio documentary, whatever happened davy graham ? , in 2006 featured in bbc 4 documentary folk britannia.

many people sought out graham on years , tried encourage him return stage play live; last of long line of seekers mark pavey, arranged outings guitarists , old friends including bert jansch, duck baker , martin carthy. these concerts typically eclectic, graham playing mix of acoustic blues, romanian dance tunes, irish pipe tunes, songs south africa , pieces bach. final album, broken biscuits, consisted of originals , new arrangements of traditional songs around world.

graham diagnosed lung cancer in 2008 , died on 15 december of year. survived 2 daughters, mercy , kim.

in november 2016, blue plaque installed @ birthplace, former bosworth park infirmary building in market bosworth.