Graeme Clarke – A Lifetime in Music

Arriving in Australia from New Zealand in 1980, I began pursuing a lifelong passion for music. Initially a hobby, this love for entertainment soon found me performing in and around the Newcastle and Sydney area. It wasn’t long before I decided to take the leap into a professional music career. My early ventures included the release of an LP album, Graeme Clarke Sings Your Favourites, and a single featuring Tender Trap and Darling, On Your Way Out Close the Door. These works laid the foundation for what would become an extensive musical journey across Australia.

While touring greater Australia, I had a significant milestone during my time in Brisbane in 1985 when Tender Trap climbed to No. 9 on the Country Music Charts.

In 1998, now based in South Australia, I embarked on a new creative phase, writing seven original songs for the 14-track album Footprints in the Sand at Wallaroo. This release resonated deeply with local audiences, selling over 1,500 copies. Encouraged by its success, I followed up with another 14-track album, One for the Road, which included four more original compositions. My creative pursuits also took me internationally, where I collaborated with Vaughn Lofstead at the “Smoke House Studio” in Nashville, TN. Teaming up with a local singer, I released Boots, Things, and Golden Rings, a title inspired by the thematic elements of the songs within.

My most recent album, Hell & Back, showcases a mix of Australian and Nashville influences. The album includes two tracks carried over from my previous album, recorded and mastered in Nashville, TN. Among its many successes, the track Country Club reached No. 1 on the European Country Music Charts in January 2014, while Just Call Me Lonesomeand Baby, Are You Getting Tired of Me both achieved No. 1 rankings on the International Mainstream Country Music Chart in 2017. The title track, Hell and Back, found international acclaim, reaching No. 11 on the Country Music Internet Top 30 Indie Chart in April 2017, garnering over 600 weekly spins.

In March 2017, I was honored to be ranked No. 12 among the Top 200 International Artists, sharing recognition alongside legends such as Waylon Jennings, Dwight Yoakam, and Willie Nelson.