Graham Ord
Encyclopedia
Graham Ord born March 22, 1961, is an English
/Canadian
musician and songwriter
. He has garnered respect internationally as a fine musician and engaging communicator. His live performances are always passionate and compelling leaving audiences wanting more. Graham performed with the Wesley Brothers in the U.K. before embarking on his solo career.
Graham was born in Colchester Essex into a musical family and began song writing as early as 5 years old. He began playing the guitar in his early teens, being taught by his Father and also various music teachers at night school and private lessons. During the late 1970s while still at school in Wales he performed in the Punk band ‘Fire Exit’. In the early eighties he made the move to London where he lived briefly in Chelsea and later in Hatfield, eventually settling in St Albans. He became a regular as a solo act performing in the North London clubs and pubs supporting various bands and other Artists. His Younger brother Doug joined him later and together with Daryl C they formed the New Wave band ‘Prussian Blues’. They recorded together and performed in various clubs and wine bars in the London area. Graham’s musical direction took a major turn after he found faith in Christ and for a year or so he didn’t perform too much in public. Later he teamed up with bass player Dave Moore and together they began performing as a duo. Later they asked Graham’s brother to join them on drums and formed the band ‘Hearts on Fire’. This band later became known as the Wesley Brothers Graham taking the name Leslie Wesley and Dave being known as Elvis Wesley. Other band members were inducted including Grunt, Hormone, Chipalater, Doc and Andrew Lloyd Wesley! The Wesley’s ended up having 13 drummers in a twelve-year period, the last of which was Geronimo Wesley named after a re usable condom from the 50’s! The Wesley brothers performed regularly on the North London pub circuit and recorded their debut ‘Fill Me Up’ which charted in 1996. Produced by Martin Smith of Delirious ithe title track also featured a duet with Graham and Kevin Prosch. Graham and Dave later also toured with Kevin’s band in the UK. Shortly after the Wesley’s signed with Alliance Media the band broke up and Graham went on to record a solo project entitled ‘Cryin’ Freedom’ again with Martin Smith producing and featuring Marc James on lead guitar and Jimmy the Skin Cooke on drums (now with Vera Cruz). It was a killer rock and roll album which sadly despite promises of major distribution was never widely released. In 1998 Graham’s popular song ‘The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate’ was recorded by Vineyard Music Group in the UK and Ireland, while Graham relocated to Canada and began a solo Career in Vancouver BC. His first Canadian release was an instrumental recording entitled ‘Waiting’ He then went on to record two CD’s with producer and writer Brian Doerksen with the Vineyard Canada Music group.
Graham has since traveled extensively around the world as a musician and has released eight solo albums to date together with several collaborative projects which have attracted accolades from around the world. He has also written and produced music for several other successful artists and has composed scores for short film and narratives.
His production work with Canadian First Nations Artist Cheryl Bear won three major awards in 2007 including 'Single of the year' at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards in Canada and in the US.
His latest recording Chill, an instrumental collaboration with Andrew Smith and Brian Wiebe, was nominated for a Shai award (Canada’s peoples choice music awards) for instrumental CD of the year.
Graham now works as a full-time musician and recording artist based out of Kelowna, B.C., Canada.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
/Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He has garnered respect internationally as a fine musician and engaging communicator. His live performances are always passionate and compelling leaving audiences wanting more. Graham performed with the Wesley Brothers in the U.K. before embarking on his solo career.
Graham was born in Colchester Essex into a musical family and began song writing as early as 5 years old. He began playing the guitar in his early teens, being taught by his Father and also various music teachers at night school and private lessons. During the late 1970s while still at school in Wales he performed in the Punk band ‘Fire Exit’. In the early eighties he made the move to London where he lived briefly in Chelsea and later in Hatfield, eventually settling in St Albans. He became a regular as a solo act performing in the North London clubs and pubs supporting various bands and other Artists. His Younger brother Doug joined him later and together with Daryl C they formed the New Wave band ‘Prussian Blues’. They recorded together and performed in various clubs and wine bars in the London area. Graham’s musical direction took a major turn after he found faith in Christ and for a year or so he didn’t perform too much in public. Later he teamed up with bass player Dave Moore and together they began performing as a duo. Later they asked Graham’s brother to join them on drums and formed the band ‘Hearts on Fire’. This band later became known as the Wesley Brothers Graham taking the name Leslie Wesley and Dave being known as Elvis Wesley. Other band members were inducted including Grunt, Hormone, Chipalater, Doc and Andrew Lloyd Wesley! The Wesley’s ended up having 13 drummers in a twelve-year period, the last of which was Geronimo Wesley named after a re usable condom from the 50’s! The Wesley brothers performed regularly on the North London pub circuit and recorded their debut ‘Fill Me Up’ which charted in 1996. Produced by Martin Smith of Delirious ithe title track also featured a duet with Graham and Kevin Prosch. Graham and Dave later also toured with Kevin’s band in the UK. Shortly after the Wesley’s signed with Alliance Media the band broke up and Graham went on to record a solo project entitled ‘Cryin’ Freedom’ again with Martin Smith producing and featuring Marc James on lead guitar and Jimmy the Skin Cooke on drums (now with Vera Cruz). It was a killer rock and roll album which sadly despite promises of major distribution was never widely released. In 1998 Graham’s popular song ‘The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate’ was recorded by Vineyard Music Group in the UK and Ireland, while Graham relocated to Canada and began a solo Career in Vancouver BC. His first Canadian release was an instrumental recording entitled ‘Waiting’ He then went on to record two CD’s with producer and writer Brian Doerksen with the Vineyard Canada Music group.
Graham has since traveled extensively around the world as a musician and has released eight solo albums to date together with several collaborative projects which have attracted accolades from around the world. He has also written and produced music for several other successful artists and has composed scores for short film and narratives.
His production work with Canadian First Nations Artist Cheryl Bear won three major awards in 2007 including 'Single of the year' at the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards in Canada and in the US.
His latest recording Chill, an instrumental collaboration with Andrew Smith and Brian Wiebe, was nominated for a Shai award (Canada’s peoples choice music awards) for instrumental CD of the year.
Graham now works as a full-time musician and recording artist based out of Kelowna, B.C., Canada.
Albums
- To Tame a Heart (1989)
- Crying Freedom (IndependentIndependent record labelAn independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, 1996, review) - Fill Me Up (Knewsense, 19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
) (with the Wesley Brothers) - Waiting (Knewsense, 20002000 in musicSee also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
) - An Offering: Honest to God Worship (Knewsense, 20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
, review) - A Good Day with the Blues (Knewsense, 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
) (with Dane Stevens) - Regarding The Maker (Knewsense, 20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, review) - Chill (Knewsense, 20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
) (with Andrew Smith and Brian Wiebe)
Songs in other projects
- wrote "Celebrate Emmanuel" on Lianna KlassenLianna KlassenLianna Klassen is a Canadian Christian Celtic/Christian New Age influenced musician, songwriter, speaker and worship leader. A Juno Award nominee and GMA Canada Covenant Award winner, Klassen has released six albums to date. Her compositions are chants, hymns and meditations on the themes of...
's album: Once Upon a Time Forever After (2002)
Songs on compilations
- Sea to Sea: I See the CrossSea to Sea: I See The CrossSea to Sea: I See The Cross is the second album in the annual Sea to Sea praise and worship music series. The album includes thirty songs performed by Canadian Christian artists on two CDs...
, "Going Back to the Source" (CMC, 2005)