Graham Brazier

Graham Philip Brazier (6 May 1952 – 4 September 2015) was a New Zealand musician and songwriter. He first came to prominence in the band Hello Sailor. After Hello Sailor, he formed a band called the Legionnaires. When he was growing up, he lived above his mother's bookshop in Dominion Road in Auckland and he collected first editions.

Graham Brazier
Birth nameGraham Philip Brazier
Born(1952-05-06)6 May 1952
Auckland, New Zealand
Died4 September 2015(2015-09-04) (aged 63)
Auckland, New Zealand
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter

Early life

His childhood was fashioned seeing R.A.K. Mason, Rex Fairburn, Kevin Ireland and other writers in the shop.[1] Graham left Mt Roskill Grammar at age 15 for his first job at Whitcombe & Tombs. He began writing songs when he was 19.[2]

Career

Although Brazier claimed he turned down an offer to join The Doors post-Jim Morrison,[3] it was stated by Doors ex-manager and biographer, Danny Sugerman, to be "somewhat exaggerated".[4]

Two Brazier associated songs are included in the official top 100 New Zealand songs. They are "Blue Lady" alongside his first band, Hello Sailor, as well as "Billy Bold" from his solo career.[5]

It was reported on 7 October 2012 that Brazier was charged with assaulting his two former partners.[6] He pleaded guilty to two counts of male assaults female and one count of common assault.[7]

Brazier suffered a heart attack in August 2015, and died in Auckland on 4 September 2015.[8]

Brazier's posthumous solo album Left Turn at Midnite, completed after Brazier's death by close friend producer Alan Jansson,[9] was released in May 2017.[10]

Solo discography
  • Inside Out (Polygram), 1981
  • Brazier (CBS), 1987 (spent one week in the NZ album chart at No. 49 in February 1988)
  • East of Eden (Wildside) March 2004
  • Left Turn at Midnite (Ripe Coconut) May 2017

Awards

Aotearoa Music Awards

The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2011Graham Brazier(as part of Hello Sailor)New Zealand Music Hall of Fameinductee[11]

References
  1. Reid, Graham (13 October 2010). "Interview: The Brazier still burning (2004)". Elsewhere. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  2. "Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier dies aged 63". The New Zealand Herald. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. "Creative Kiwis with export success". Revision : 16-12-2008
  4. "Barrels and Bandwidth". 9 May 2005. Revision : 7-10-2012
  5. "Billy Bold Music Video". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  6. "Graham Brazier Defends Assault Charges". The New Zealand Herald. 7 October 2012. Revision : 7-10-2012
  7. "Graham Brazier Sentenced on Assault Convictions". 5 November 2013. Revision : 3-3-2014
  8. Satherley, Dan (4 September 2015). "Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier dies". 3News. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  9. Wynn, Kirsty (29 April 2017). "How bizarre: Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier's album from beyond the grave". NZ Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  10. McLennan-Elliott, Finn. "The last album of Graham Brazier - Left Turn At Midnight (Ponsonby News - New Zealand)". www.ponsonbynews.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  11. "HOME INDUCTEES". www.musichall.co.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2021.

Further reading
  • Dix, John, Stranded in Paradise, Penguin, 2005. ISBN 0-14-301953-8
  • Eggleton, David, Ready To Fly, Craig Potton, 2003. ISBN 1-877333-06-9
  • Spittle, Gordon, Counting The Beat, GP Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-86956-213-5
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