This story has been updated.
Songwriter JD Graham is a rare specimen to say the least. A songwriter’s songwriter with an incredible catalog of compositions, he’s earned the respect of peers, and the admiration of fans by being the physical embodiment of rehabilitation through music.
Originally from Oklahoma where he grew up singing and playing with some of the big names from the Red Dirt scene like the boys in Cross Canadian Ragweed, Graham had just as much talent as his peers, but couldn’t stay on the straight and narrow to see that talent flourish. After being given a prescription for anxiety at age 11, this led to a 25-year battle with drug addiction.
It was a catastrophic automobile accident in 2017 that led to JD Graham’s incarceration for five years, and a complete rehabilitation and retooling of his life. While in prison, he founded a music program, raised over $20,000 for behind bars to help fund it, and worked with over 200 inmates to use music and songwriting to help aid their rehabilitation journey.
JD Graham recorded his album Razorwire Sunrise (2019) while in the Arizona State Prison. His albums Pound of Rust (2023) and Sergeant of Sorrow (2024) have become admired in songwriting circles. He’s been invited to big country music festivals like Mile 0 Fest. Graham is set to release his latest album Uppers and Downers on March 6th.
But once again it’s an automobile accident that has changed the life of JD Graham. On February 24th, Graham was involved in a major collision on the Interstate in New Mexico. “He has a broken back, broken neck, and broken ribs and they are not done with all of the tests,” says JD Graham’s daughter. “He was hit by one semi and then slammed into another. The crash was severe, and first responders had to cut him out of his vehicle. He was taken to a nearby hospital and then life flighted to a trauma center in Texas, where he is currently being treated.”
Graham is currently in the ICU. To add insult to injury, JD Graham’s wife Amy was recently diagnosed with Cancer, and has been in a recovery of her own. A Go Fund Me has been set up to help JD Graham and his family with expenses. After being set up on Wednesday morning (2-25), donations immediately started pouring in from the music community, including from JD’s friends in the songwriting and Red Dirt music community.
The Birds Nest Listening Room in Dunn, North Carolina is also planning a benefit show for JD Graham on March 15th.
JD Graham’s daughter Destiny tells Saving Country Music, “He was traveling to Oklahoma where he’s got some shows coming up, and a semi nearly ran him over. He had his dad’s dog with him. It killed the dog. He was taken to the Tucumcari hospital. They weren’t equipped to deal with his level of trauma. So he was lifeflighted to Amarillo. His back is broken, and it’s a unstable fracture, which means if they don’t fix it, he could become paralyzed.”
Destiny continues, “He’s going to have a 4-hour surgery, and they’re going to put a steel rod and screws in his back. He’s going to be in the ICU for the next week. But it is a good prognosis, though because of his past, it brings up a lot of trauma for him. He can’t walk now. It’s going to take him a few weeks to get there … My dad’s not the kind to ask for support. But we had so many asking, I thought it was appropriate to make the Go Fund Me for those who want to donate.”
The accident comes at a time that Graham had a calendar of shows scheduled to help promote his new album Uppers and Downers set to be released in less than two weeks. Produced by Jason Weinheimer, it features Tulsa’s version of The Wrecking Crew, with John Fullbright on keys, Jesse Aycock on guitar and pedal/lap steel, among others.
“When I was thinking about where I wanted to record this album, I had been listening to the Pony Bradshaw album, ‘Calico Jim’ and loved it. I decided to figure out where it was recorded, and who produced it. That’s when I found Jason Weinheimer and sent him an email,” JD Graham recently told Saving Country Music.“I asked him to listen to my last two albums, and let me know if he would be interested in making an album with me. He got back with me a couple of days later and said that he was in. He sent me the player list and my jaw hit the floor … I couldn’t believe that I was going to make a record with them.”
Ahead of the album, he’s released the song “Truth in Tears,” a duet with John Fullbright.
“This was the most fun I’ve ever had making an album,” JD said. “There was no one micromanaging the process. We just charted the songs out and played them. Everyone’s creative input was welcome. The album was recorded mostly live with everyone in one room. Three days into the studio I asked John if he would sing the second verse on ‘Truth In Tears’ and he agreed. It felt good to have one of your songwriting heroes sing on one of your songs.”
The reason there has been such an outpouring of support for JD Graham is because as respected as he is as a songwriter, he’s just as respected as a person. JD’s story has been an inspiration to many, in music, in prison, and in the outside world. The healing power of music is embodied in the JD Graham story. Hopefully that healing power can once again manifest itself to help JD Graham through his latest adversity.
Donate to the JD Graham Go Fund Me.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source savingcountrymusic.com ’
