At the age of 15 he was his Father's main labourer. After his Father's death, he would rise very early each morning to tend the farm, and be responsible for the large family of siblings, and his Mother. His writings were done late at night when he could relax and read by candlelight.
His poems were published in Kilmarnock and he made his name early in life. He moved to Edinburgh for a while but was homesick for Ayrshire, and the new family he had started with Jean Armour. He lived four lifetimes in one, and did so much for the national culture of Scotland, by collecting over 300 folk songs and having them published in order to preserve them for the future. He was a folk-hero of poor Scottish people, and was a philosopher who was not afraid to speak his true thoughts, even though they often landed him in hot water. This is reflected well in the musical.
The Composer, Lyricist, and Book-author,
Bruce Hebenton Graham was born in
Dundee, Scotland, and his musical
teacher was Henry Nelmes
Forbes, ABCA (Hons), - the one who taught the legendary Jimmy Shand.
He had a varied musical career in and around Dundee before leaving to become a professional musician at the age of 19, wanting to be a band-arranger after seeing the film The Glenn Miller Story. He plays all keyboards, all tuned percussion, accordion, all saxes and woodwinds, and electronic synths, and was listed in the Musician's Union Directory as being the most versatile musician in the UK.
After moving around the world and studying for 5 years he settled in London. He soon became a session musician working in all the best TV, Film, and Recording studios.
Here are a few of the world's greatest musicians and singers he has worked with:-
Andy Williams, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth, Rock Hudson, Juliette Prowse, Lulu, The Three Degrees, Sir Bob Hope, Sacha Distel, Sir Harry Secombe, Tommy Cooper, Tommy Steele, Paul Daniels, Dickie Henderson, Matt Monro, Bruce Forsythe, Richard Chamberlain, Frankie Vaughan, Helen Reddy, Vince Hill, Val Doonican, Bert Weedon, Des O'Connor, Anthony Newley, Wayne Sleep, Michael Danso, Dame Vera Lynn, Michael Crawford, Michael Ball .................
And with the following orchestras.........
The London Palladium Orchestra, The National Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Concert Orchestra, Geoff Love, Ike Isaacs, The BBC Radio Orchestra, The Scottish Radio Orchestra, The BBC Midland Light Orchestra, The Alyn Ainsworth Orchestra, Harry Rabinovitch, Ray MacVay, Johnny Howard, Phil Tate, Sydney Thomson, Harry Leader, The New Bert Kaempfert Orchestra, The Les Reed Orchestra, The Croydon Jazz Orchestra, and his own Studio Orchestras, etc., etc..
With over 300 Songs, he has written 10 Symphonies, and 2 Suites for Brass Bands and Orchestras, and various pieces for different sized ensembles. In the Jazz field he has another 20+ Suites for Large Jazz Orchestra, music for Concert Bands, and dozens of Latin, Jazz, and Swing pieces for Big Bands.
After so many professional years in the music business, Bruce has been the Musical Director of the Croydon Jazz Orchestra for the past 29 years. Bruce feels that this is the best way to give something back to the business which has been so good to him.
With his two main businesses, Jingles Records and Jingles Music, they now take up most of his time, when he is not out gigging on Solo Piano.
Charles Cleese