Mike Graham's earliest songs were noticeably shaped by the energy buried in the flatlands and oilfields of West Texas. Born in Pecos, raised in and around Dumas, Big Spring, Midland and Odessa, Texas, it's not surprising that his debut album (1999) was titled "Just West of Nowhere".

 

Although his musical influences include Rodney Crowell, James McMurtry, Springsteen, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt - Guy Clark, Delbert McClinton, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock (all from West Texas) are on the list as well.

 

Mike's second album titled "Find You a Highway" (2001) was produced by Larry Joe Taylor and includes several more West Texas influenced songs. His third release, "Bad Ideas" (2003), was produced by legendary guitarist, songwriter, and member of the Lost Gonzo Band John Inmon. The whiskey-soaked heartland rock record was well-received and got significant airplay on Texas radio as well as on Sirius/XM's Outlaw Country station.

 

After touring just about every club, honky-tonk, and festival in Texas and beyond for almost a decade, Mike retired from the music business in 2006 to focus on his new family and generally becoming a grown-up.

 

In 2020, with more time on his hands and a batch of unrecorded songs, Mike called on his former bandmates Bracken Hale, Corby Schaub, and Derek Groves, plus Heather Stalling, Geoff Queen, Courtney Patton, and Chris Schlotzhauer. The result is a seven song EP "Sunset/Sunrise". It was released in November of 2020. The self-explanatory  first track is titled "Good to be Back". 

 

Whether alone or alongside some of the best songwriters working today, Mike is very glad to be back writing and performing his songs.