For some, it began with True Believers (or the Skunks if you’re hardcore). Graham’s music career began when he dropped out of law school at the University of Texas to join the Skunks, where he opened for bands like the Clash and the Ramones. Eventually, Graham left the group to back blues singer Lou Ann Barton before joining the seminal True Believers with Alejandro Escovedo; but his ride was far from over when he left the band right before they split in 1987, going on to collaborate with John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X, Kelly Willis, Patty Griffin, and many more.
Still, it was Jon Dee Graham’s solo work that connected a lot of fans to his understated yet incredible talent. Hooray for the Moon (2002), The Great Battle (2004) and Summerland (1999) are good starting points, and Only Dead For a Little While (2023) is a damn treasure. Laurie Gallardo put it best when she said, “[his] songs connect to the soul in ways you didn’t think possible.” You know the truth of that statement if you’ve ever spent any time with the late Graham and his music, especially if you ever caught him live at one of his Wednesday residencies at the Continental Club, or any other space he chose to bless with his presence.
