GRAHAM LEAR (Canadian drummer) is the 2010 recipient of the Dennis Brown Lifetime Achievement Award - Jack Richardson Music Awards London Canada.

Originally from Plymouth, England, Graham’s drumming has garnered critical acclaim.

A former student of the Grove School of Music, tutored privately by Ralph Humphrey Bernard Purdie, and Duduka DaFonseca, Graham’s roots in r & b, rock and jazz have culminated in a unique style as substantiated by thousands of views of his drum solos on YouTube. Canadian rock icon Neil Peart has acknowledged Lear as an influence, as has Mark Kelso, Head of Percussion Studies at Humber College Toronto.

 

Graham began drumming at eight years of age, auditioning for the Police Boys Concert Band of London Canada. Guided by former Police Band alumnus Don Johnson and Robert Comber he progressed to Orchestra London by age 14. He also cites Canadian jazz great Terry Clarke and Penti Glan as early musical influences.

In 1974 Graham moved to Los Angeles with Canadian singer Gino Vannelli during which time the Grammy nominated Powerful People and Storm At Sunup were recorded, produced by A&M records icon Herb Alpert. Ironically, drumming legend Buddy Rich, another of Graham’s influences covered the tracks Storm At Sunup and Love Me Now, for his Speak No Evil recording. The critically acclaimed Gist Of the Gemini followed, recorded at Air Studios in London UK.

Listening to Vannelli’s records on his European tour bus, Carlos Santana tasked then manager Bill Graham with personally finding Lear for his band, accomplished as promised, in Toronto following rehearsals with Domenic Troiano. Within the month Lear was performing before a sold out Wembley stadium with Santana. Recordings from the ensuing European tour resulted in the double platinum album Moonflower for the group. 1987 found him sought by rockers REO Speedwagon for U.S. and South American tours, and on to European tours with the Canadian progressive group Saga.

Relocated to Portland OR, Graham reunited with Gino Vannelli for his Yonder Tree CD  on the Verve label, acclaimed by Gino as a personal favourite. Also with Clovis, a project of four music professors including Tom Bergeron of Western Oregon U. and bassist Glen Moore. With Native American Music Award nominee Gary Small on Cheyenne Blue Revisited, and many live dates with Joe Cocker percussionist Bobby Torres and saxophonist Patrick Lamb.

Graham’s touring schedule has taken him to almost every country including Mongolia and highlights include Santana with guest Pat Metheny at the historic original Live Aid (1985), Apple’s US Festival in California (1982) and Bill Graham’s International Peace Walk in Moscow (1987). Plus three appearances at Royal Albert Hall with Santana and Paul Anka, and with jazz/fusion ensemble Sacbe’ at the Berklee College Latin Cultural Festival Boston.

Graham has been featured in two articles for Modern Drummer, in Drums and Perc. and Sticks magazine and performed clinics at Musicians Institute of Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Toronto, St. Louis and Tampa. But the thread through Graham’s personal passion for music has always been jazz. He teaches privately, and as leader of his own jazz group, performed at the inaugural Niagara on the Lake Jazz Festival where he currently resides.