Gram LeBron
| Gram LeBron | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Graham LeBron |
| Also known as | Golden Gram |
| Born |
May 5, 1973 Omaha, Nebraska |
| Instruments | Singer, guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, melodica, glockenspiel, stylophone drums |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Cedar Fever Records |
| Associated acts | Rogue Wave, The Album Leaf, Port O'Brien, Schrasj, Sad Like Crazy, Get Better, Com Jr, Elskling, Waters, Daring Ear, TV Mike and the Scarecrowes |
| Website | Golden Gram website |
Gram LeBron (born May 5, 1973) is an American musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and film composer. He was born Graham LeBron in Omaha, Nebraska and currently resides in Oakland, CA. In January 2010, he started a music and video project with Shanna Mahan entitled Get Better while living in the woods of Rockford, Alabama where his father was raised. They released an LP titled Two-Way Power in 2012 via bandcamp.com. He and Shanna met while living at Lobot Gallery in Oakland, California. A former member of Rogue Wave, Port O'Brien and The Album Leaf, he sings and plays guitar, bass, mandolin, piano, melodica, glockenspiel, stylophone and drums. He is also an accomplished DJ and recording engineer. He records his own compositions under the title Golden Gram. In early 2014, he and Shanna Mahan separated after completing a film score for the independent feature-length film, I'm obsessed with you (but you've got to leave me alone). The film debuted at the Sonoma Independent Film Festival in April 2014.
Since 2010, he has composed music for commercials and online spots for various clients including Catapult Mediaworks, Square Inc, Levi's, Asana.com. He is represented by Portland music agency, Marmoset.
He is currently at work on the third Golden Gram album. He plays drums with Outer Embassy (members of Daring Ear, Extra Classic), drums and guitar with TV Mike and the Scarecrowes, and bass in Elskling (members of Waters, Social Studies)
He will be DJing the Huichica Music Festival on June 14, 2014.
Musical history
His first band was an electronic dance project called Conundrum which self-released one tape, Something for ya, before fizzling as members attended different colleges.[1]
His next band, which lasted until 1998, was called schrasj and featured then wife, Terri Loewenthal[2] (Rubies, Call and Response). They released two records, schrasj (1996), and f (1998). Before leaving Houston for California with Loewenthal in 1999, LeBron played and recorded with Sad Like Crazy,[3] a band still active in Austin, TX.
Arriving in California in March 1999, LeBron soon found work at Levi's headquarters in San Francisco where he worked for the next five years to support his ever growing music habit.[4] During this time, he wrote and recorded his first solo album under the name Golden Gram. The self-titled Golden Gram[3] was recorded in his studio in Oakland and released in 2001.
Good friend Patrick Spurgeon, following a Craigslist post for musicians, joined Rogue Wave and shortly after introduced LeBron to the band.[5] He joined Rogue Wave in February 2003,[6] playing his first show as a three piece at Kimo's after just two rehearsals. He quit his day job at Levi's in July 2004 when his department was no longer receptive to his requests for time off to tour. LeBron left Rogue Wave in March 2009 after six years of service.
His second solo album, Master of None, was released on September 8, 2009.[7] It was produced by LeBron and Louie Lino (Nada Surf).
He toured as multi-instrumentalist with Port O'Brien through the end of 2009 to promote the release of their third album, Threadbare, on TBD Records. Gram has also played keyboards with Nada Surf, and guitar with the Heavenly States and Spoon.[8] At Treasure Island 2008, he played acoustic guitar with Dr. Dog.
In 2010, LeBron toured with The Album Leaf, playing bass guitar and keyboards.[9]
After spending the summer of 2010 in the woods of Alabama creating music with Shanna Mahan as Get Better, he moved to Nashville where he worked as a carpenter. In January 2013, he returned to Oakland and began playing in Com Jr. with Shanna Mahan, while also producing music for commercials and film.
Throughout 2013, he played in Com Jr, TV Mike and the Scarecrowes, Mornings, and Daring Ear, appearing at the 2013 Hickey Fest. As Com Jr, he and Shanna DJed the 2013 Huichica Festival held at Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, CA.
Shortly before his 41st birthday, Graham earned his Yellow Belt in Tae Kwon Do, after a grueling day of testing. He broke a pine board with a Palm Heel Strike.
Discography
Albums
- Golden Gram (2001), Ojet Records
- Master of None (2009), Cedar Fever Records
- Two-Way Power" Get Better (2012) MicaMount Records
- REORDER EP" Com Jr. (2013) Self-released