Grand Ole Opry Inductee, T. Graham Brown Onstage at The Historic Masonic Theatre
Anthony Graham Brown, known professionally as T. Graham Brown, has recorded a total of thirteen studio albums and charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Three of these singles — “Hell and High Water” and “Don’t Go to Strangers” from 1986, and “Darlene” from 1988 — reached Number One, and eight more made Top Ten. T. Graham Brown, presented by Mountain Opry, will be on stage in the John Hillert Auditorium of the Historic Masonic Theatre on Saturday, November 16 at 7:00 pm.
In 2024, he achieved one of country music’s crowning achievements when he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Prior to his induction, Brown had made over 300 appearances as a guest performer.
Brown’s initial entry to Country Radio was the sad and soulful “Drowning In Memories.” That Top-40 single helped him to establish himself, and by the winter of 1986, he had warmed up to audiences with the bluesy hit “I Tell It Like It Used To Be.” Other hits quickly followed, with his first self-penned release “Hell And High Water,” which became his first number one song. “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” and “Don’t Go To Strangers” were the next releases, which all became chart-toppers.
“Doing shows, visiting radio stations and promoting our records, kept me out on the road over 300 days a year and that was a lot of traveling! This was when I was on tour with Kenny Rogers, who was the biggest thing going back then. I was learning so much about the business and having the time of my life. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!”
His audiences continued to make him a radio favorite as he continued to amass more hits like “Darlene,” the smash duet “Don’t Go Out” with Tanya Tucker, and the regret-filled “If You Could Only See Me Now.”
At the same time his singles were climbing the charts, T.’s powerful voice could also be heard on radio and television. His sense of style provided the platform for a successful series of cameos in commercials for international brands such as Coca-Cola, Harrah’s Casino, Burger King, and Taco Bell. It’s his work with the popular Mexican eatery that he is perhaps best known, with a series of commercials under the mantra “Run For The Border,” a campaign that lasted four years. Brown says it was an exciting time – and one where he ate more than his share of Meximelts and Nachos Bell Grande dishes!
As the 80s progressed into the next decade, Brown continued to flex his artistic muscle. A well-received concert album enabled him a chance to pay homage to his early influences, like the incomparable Otis Redding, and his hero George Jones, who he teamed up with on several projects, including the CMA Award-winning Vocal Event of the Year release, “I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair.”
It was a gripping 1998 release about his battles with alcohol – “Wine Into Water”- which helped him introduce his music to the Christian audiences. This iconic song has been recorded by over a hundred artists, including Loretta Lynn, on her critically acclaimed project, Full Circle.
In recent years, his first-ever Gospel album, Forever Changed, netted him a Grammy nomination, with the promise of more such music on the way. Collaboration from the disc, “He’ll Take Care of You,” paired him with Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill.
Brown joined Broadway icon Carol Channing for a duet of “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree” on her 2012 album True To The Red, White, and Blue. In 2014, Brown again collaborated with producer Mark Carman to produce the Grammy-nominated album, Forever Changed, featuring guest appearances by industry giants Leon Russell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Cropper, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Booth Brothers, Three Bridges, Jimmy Fortune, Sonya Isaacs, and Jason Crabb. In July 2014 the first single from the album was released on the MCM World Media Label. The song, “He’ll Take Care of You”, was written by well known, award-winning songwriters Dan Penn, Gary Nicholson, and Donnie Fritts.
Now entering his fifth decade as an entertainer, T. Graham Brown continues to branch out in his career. Before moving to Nashville in 1982, he made a few cameos in feature films, including 1977’s Greased Lightning with Richard Pryor.
And, for T. Graham Brown, it’s all about a career that he enjoys. He’ll tell you with a grin, “I’ve got a band and a bus, and I’ll keep taking the music to the people as long as God lets me. It’s what I love to do!”
T. Graham Brown will perform at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge on Saturday November 16th, at 7pm. AMR is giving away three pairs of tickets to the show. You may call any of the three AMR stations to get your name on the list. We’ll draw for the tickets on Friday, November 15th Abby’s show Dufour Dujour.
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