Dennis Brown Life Time Achievement Award Recipient: Graham Lear
Born in 1949 in Plymouth UK, Graham moved with his parents to Canada at an early age, and, before long, was channelling
his energy with the London Police Boys’ Band. Before long, he was being taken under the wing of many of
London’s finest including previous JRMA honourees Phil Murphy and Johnny Downs. Under their tutelage, and that of
many others, Graham began to develop his chops and, by the age of 13, was being used by The London Symphony Orchestra, now
known as Orchestra London. But, after all, he was a teenager, and before long he and others began to soak up the
influences of the top rock bands and drummers of the day. Soul was the
thing in those days if you wanted to work, and King Lear & the Playwrites reflected that, with a full horn section
and by the late 60s everybody knew there was somebody special sitting behind the kit, and when former Mandala front man
George Olliver wanted to start his own band in the style of Blood Sweat & Tears, he came to London and built it around a number
of musicians from this city. That band, Natural Gas, was a sensation but didn’t last long enough to leave an indelible
footprint and, before long, Graham and a couple of others joined a Woodstock and London band called Truck and snagged a
deal with Capitol Records.
From there it was off to Montreal and a gig with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens who
had commissioned a ballet around the Who’s Tommy. Graham was noticed there by Montreal resident Gino Vannelli, and drummed
with his band through the most creative and successful period of their career. Then Carlos Santana came calling. In Graham Carlos found
what he was looking for and this phase of Graham’s career would cover the next dozen years and many recordings, both studio
and live, becoming known world wide during his tenure.
The birth of his two sons saw Graham and his
family moving back to Canada largely for the quality of Canadian schools, and Graham was suddenly on a very large number
of discs being recorded in Toronto at the time. Soon, though, he returned to the States, settling in Portland Oregon, which he
found comparable as an ideal place to raise children, and which placed him closer to the ever increasing calls for his
abilities.
Since, he has spent time on the road as drummer for REO Speedwagon and Saga, and, for the last
decade has been one of the busiest drummers in the business, touring constantly with the icon of Canadian pop and early rock
and roll, Paul Anka.
Londoners have always been proud of their native sons, and London musicians have
always been most proud of Graham Lear, who sets an example with his talent, attitude and success. He is a most
worthwhile recipient of the Dennis Brown Lifetime Achievement Award.
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