Graham Wilson
Graham has an impressive musical background and is an incredibly talented and versatile performer. He is regularly booked at quality venues such as "The Lagoon Seafood Restaurant" (Wollongong's premier restaurant), performing to as many as 400 people in a sitting.
Graham's live performances are pure guitar and vocals - no midi files or backing tracks - just totally (brilliant!) 'live', honest, talent which includes a wide range of vocal styles (The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Michael Buble, Bee Gees, James Taylor, Neil Diamond, Pete Murray, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen - the list goes on!...)
"I'm a guitar player who sings and loves playing to an audience but, at all times, I am conscious of entertaining people and not playing for myself. Reading an audience's preferences in music is an interesting thing to try and achieve"
His repertoire is just as impressive, songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s, right through to today's hits. Instrumentally Graham will play anything from 'Classical Gas', to Pop, to Jazz Standards. His ability to 'read and respond to' an audience makes for excellent entertainment - he can also satisfy most requests.
"Every time you play you should be aiming at entertaining whoever is listening. I'm forever learning new material. So much of my work comes from word of mouth references."
Graham started out in a rock band at age 16 ("I often wonder WHAT it sounded like!" he quips). His talent has taken him on a long and illustrious journey with some amazing stops along the way.
Graham taught guitar at The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music from 1977 until 1982, when he was approached to join 'The Four Kinsmen', Australia's internationally renowned variety act. About a month later he was on a four month tour of Canada and The U.S.A. This was the first of many such experiences, which included 9 tours of U.S.A., doing 11 shows a week for four months on 'The Strip' in Las Vegas, (They were in fact, the very FIRST Australian act to perform their own show in Las Vegas). Performing 8 shows a week for two years at Jupiter's Casino on The Gold Coast is further testimony to the talent involved.
In Australia, as a solo performer, Graham's career has continued from strength to strength, working in Sydney, Wollongong, Uluru and Queensland. When I asked him where he is happy to perform his answer was "I am available to work anywhere. I mean ANYWHERE"!
Graham is very much in demand for corporate events, birthday parties, weddings, as well as private events and regular bookings at venues. He is also very generous, donating his time and talent to a number of charitable events and causes, including "The House With No Steps", "Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children", "Rotary Clubs", "View Club" and "The Kidzwish Foundation" (Graham was a key performer at "A Night For Ebony" at The Novotel in Wollongong in 2008 - which raised over $200,000.00 for The Heart Foundation! - THANKS Graham!).
Graham has regular engagements as a Public Speaker, his talks are interesting and entertaining. Graham delivers a mix of some of the serious aspects as well as many humorous anectodes of being in the Entertainment Industry, being on the road and touring and working in Las Vegas. He also teaches guitar at his home in Wollongong.
Graham has paid tribute to Wollongong through two original compositions, "Close To Heaven" and "I Finally Wrote A Song".
You can contact Graham here to discuss your function and musical requirements, call Graham direct on 0419 504 766, or by emailing him directly at: grahamguitarwilson@bigpond.com
