Graham Gouldman

Graham Gouldman

Graham Gouldman is a songwriter and musician from Salford, United Kingdom. Born in 1946, he is known for his work in British pop and rock as well as for writing material for other artists before establishing his own recording career.

Songwriting and early recordings

By the time of his debut album in 1968, Gouldman has already written hit singles for several groups and artists, including Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds, the Hollies and Wayne Fontana. These include No Milk Today and Listen People for Herman’s Hermits, For Your Love for The Yardbirds, Bus Stop for the Hollies, and Pamela, Pamela and The Impossible Years for Wayne Fontana. On that album, he also records his own versions of some of those songs alongside new compositions.

He later releases a second solo project in 1980: the score for the animated feature Animalympics. He also has a solo single, Sunburn, from 1979, written for the film of the same name.

10cc and related groups

Gouldman is a long-time member of 10cc. After earlier work with The Mindbenders and Hotlegs, he joins Eric Stewart with Kevin Godley and Lol Creme in 1972 to reform the group. The band continues on and off for 23 years, ending with a final split in 1995. Gouldman later tours in 2009 with Graham and Friends under the 10cc name, and in 2010 Kevin joins Graham for more touring as 10cc.

His other group work includes membership of The Mindbenders, The Mockingbirds, Ohio Express, Wax, GG/06, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, and The Crowd.

Wax

In the 1980s, Gouldman forms Wax with Andrew Gold. The duo scores hits with Ball and Chain, American English, Right Between the Eyes and Bridge to Your Heart, which becomes their biggest hit. His album Love & Work is released in 2012 and is dedicated to Gold after Gold’s death in 2011.