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©2006 Copyright: SingerUniverse, All rights reserved. |
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To immediately listen to this month's Top Five vocalists, please Click Here Will Graves Named November “Best Vocalist Of The Month” For His Rendition of “A Song For You”By Dale Kawashima Will Graves, a gifted R&B/pop vocalist/pianist & drummer based in Memphis, TN, has won the November SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for his performance of the Leon Russell classic hit, “A Song For You.” Graves won a regional, Grammy talent showcase in November 2004, and with his powerful vocals and elegant piano playing, it’s easy to see why he won that competition and several other events.
Graves is also a songwriter, and he has written or co-written the material for his upcoming CD, Love Stories. This album is near completion, and it’s scheduled to be released in early 2006. Graves also helms his 12-member band called Will Graves & Soul, which plays concerts and festivals in Tennessee, Georgia and other states. The band has opened for such artists as Justin Timberlake, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alex Bugnon. Born in Los Angeles, Graves moved with his family to Memphis when he was nine. His mother and his grandmother were musicians, and he has sisters who are also singers. Graves started piano lessons at a young age, and he sang in the church and school choirs. During high school, he competed and won talent shows, both at his school, and in two city-wide competitions. Graves subsequently attended Lane College in Jackson, TN, where he majored in music, with an emphasis on vocal performance and percussion/drums. After graduating, he moved to Chicago, where he joined two bands, High Society and T to G (a jazz group). Graves then moved to Washington, D.C. (where his wife Jada was attending college), before resettling back in Memphis. In 2001, he formed his band Will Graves & Soul, which has become a successful live act.
It was in November 2004 that Graves had a career breakthrough, winning the regional Grammy showcase in Memphis, which helped establish him as prominent talent. “It was very exciting to win this Grammy showcase,” said Graves. “By winning, I’ve been able to form a relationship with the Memphis (NARAS) music academy and build new connections. Last month (Oct. 2005) we did a showcase for Justin Timberlake, who was scouting talent in Memphis. This led to my band being the opening act for one of his concerts.” Graves is looking forward to completing and releasing his new CD. “We’re coming close to finishing the project,” he said. “I’ve written some of the songs by myself, and I’ve also been collaborating on some excellent songs with Mark Herron, who is also my manager. Mark and I make a good combination. I would also like to do some recordings with Ralph Sutton (a top engineer/mixer in Memphis, who has worked with Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige and many others).
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