Robert Graham, renowned American composer, was born on September 5, 1912 in El Dorado, KS.

When America entered World War II, Graham first worked for a war plant in Wichita, KS. In 1944, he joined the Army, serving as Chaplain’s assistant with the Army of Occupation, Eighth Army in Yokohama, Japan.

 

Graham earned his degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Redlands in California.

 

Recognized as a truly gifted composer, he combined strains of melody with marked skill as a pianist and organist, becoming a celebrated musical composer. He had a varied career, accomplishing seemingly impossible feats in spite of repeated illness. He wrote both secular and religious works, through 21 separate publishers.

 

Among awards he received are an early one from the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs, and the Hubert Prize for outstanding work in the field of musical composition in 1951. In 1956, he was chosen as one of the top 12 outstanding composers of educational music for piano in America.

 

He died on Dec. 9, 1992 in San Diego, California.