Colin Graham

Colin Graham was born and raised in Madison County, IL, where he began playing guitar at the age of fifteen.  He is largely self-taught, and spent much of his teenage years learning from seasoned musicians in the area, playing a variety of styles on both the electric and acoustic guitar.

From 2010-2014, he studied history at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he also developed a fervent interest in the many diverse forms of American folk music.  He began learning acoustic slide guitar in the style of the delta blues, taking inspiration from innovators such as Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson.  Later, he would transfer his slide abilities to the electric guitar, looking to Taj Mahal, Duane Allman and Elmore James as muses.

It was also during this time that Colin began playing the five string banjo.  Pete Seeger’s music and well-known instructional book served as his initial guides to the world of banjo playing, which introduced him to a host of traditional songs and styles of folk music.  A couple of years later, he took on the challenge of learning the bluegrass banjo style, taking inspiration from a diverse range of players including Ralph Stanley, Tony Trischka, Earl Scruggs, Bill Keith, and JD Crowe.

Since moving back to the St. Louis area in 2014, Colin has performed throughout the region as both a guitarist and banjo player with various blues and bluegrass bands, including his current traditional bluegrass group, The Silver Creek Bluegrass Band.  He has also taught lessons on the banjo, guitar, and ukulele, seeking to share his interest in and appreciation for traditional forms of music and the historical and cultural context in which they emerged.