From the turbulent ’60s to today’s social movements, Graham Nash has never been afraid to sing how he feels – about anything. He probably even has a song about turning 75. Yep, today is Graham Nash’s birthday. To celebrate, let’s take a quick look at how Graham became a steady voice for change.
Before Graham Nash was at the front of any social movement, he was gigging in Manchester, England, with his school buddy, Allan Clarke. Starting in 1955, their band went through several iterations, changing names from the Two Teens to the Levins to the Guytones (after they bought Guytone guitars, of course). Eventually, while they were performing with the Fourtones, members of the Deltas extended an invitation to Graham and Allan. After several personnel shuffles, the Deltas became the Hollies, with Graham on rhythm guitar and vocals.
The Hollies had several singles that made it as high as #12 on the UK charts. With Graham as their key songwriter, they finally began to make some noise in the US with songs such as “Stop Stop Stop.”
As the 1960s’ rock scene swirled deeper and deeper into psychedelia, Graham grew restless with his role in the Hollies, and in 1968, he jumped ship to join a couple of musicians, David Crosby and Stephen Stills. Soon they had built a major following with hits such as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” and “Marrakesh Express.”
When Neil Young joined the band, the newly minted Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young was quickly regarded as a supergroup. It didn’t take Graham long to take advantage of the band’s massive audience. In the 1970s, Graham wrote his plea to parents, “Teach Your Children,” and the emotional “Chicago.” The inspirational message of “Chicago | We Can Change the World” came in response to protestors being beaten and arrested at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. This message resonated with a young, disenfranchised generation. Graham had found his people, and his pulpit. For the next 20 years, he would lead the way musically for many social causes and concerns.
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young would spend 30 years bickering, making up, reuniting, and recording albums. During that time, a now outspoken Graham found himself front and center in the ’70s anti-nuclear movement. He took his battle well into the ’80s, when the nuclear industry looked to expand.
But nuclear power hasn’t been the only cause to hear from Graham Nash. Graham has also aligned himself with causes related to AIDS/HIV, children, conservation, disaster relief, education, the environment, health, homelessness, human rights, and hunger. One of his more significant recent appearances occurred on November 8, 2011, when Graham teamed up with David Crosby for an informal performance in support of the Occupy Wall Street protests.
[credit] © David Shankbone 2011
Graham Nash is currently on a short list of musicians who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once in 1997 for his work with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and again in 2010 as a member of the Hollies.
In celebration of Graham, grab your favorite guitar, think of something you want to change, and sing about it. If you can’t think of anything to sing about, you can just sing “Happy Birthday” to Graham, but you don’t have to like it.