Being Graham Colton

VYPE caught up with Colton, who is in between tours, to ask him about life, his friend Wes Welker, and American Idol VYPE: So, what's the quick rundown of the past 10 years or so? Graham Colton: Literally, after my senior year of high school and football ended, I was lucky enough to start playing concerts in Dallas while I was a freshman at SMU. I fell into playing around Dallas and got some fans across the country thanks to the internet. That turned into some touring and becoming friends with lots of my musical influences. That helped shaped my song writing and allowed me to continue to play for fans. VYPE: You did the late night concert tour. What was that like? GC: Yeah, I got to play on the Ellen show. Did Leno. Regis. Letterman. It was a cool experience. I was lucky enough to have a song that was happening and popular at the time. VYPE: You weren't on American Idol, but a lot of people know you from it. What's the story there? GC: I wasn't on it, but my song was. "Best Days." Every musician seems to want to be on Idol, because there are so many viewers. My song was the exit song. It was the one that played when someone gets kicked off the show. That got me on to the late-night circuit. VYPE: Was giving up football tough for you? GC: I thought it would be. But I told myself that if football was natural and organic I would have done it. But you know, the way Wes (Welker) feels about football is how I feel about my music. I felt like I had a great experience playing football, why not going out on top. Save my knees and my head. What an amazing experience. It's crazy how much I still talk about being a high school football player. VYPE: You've been friends with Wes for a long time. Are you amazed by what he's done? GC: I will proudly say I'm his biggest fan. I'm not surprised about what he's done. I'm proud, but not surprised. I've known him since he was 3 years old. His determination and talent is something you can't measure. VYPE: Do you still wish you were throwing passes to him? GC: I still have my Friday night dreams. But I don't miss the two-a-day practices in the heat, that's for sure. VYPE: So, what was the first thing you did musically? GC: I always sang but my deal was always just the guitar. I wanted that more than anything. I was probably 11 or 12 when I got started. I never had lessons, my dad taught me the chords and I would practice for hours. I never understood math or science, but I understand music. VYPE: You get to be a rock star and a former athlete. How cool is it just to be Graham Colton? GC: I've just been lucky. There are a lot of people much more talented in football and in music that haven't had the breaks that I have had. Football helped me in music. Being on a team taught me a lot. VYPE: What's next for you? GC: Just more of the same, hopefully. I just got done a few days ago where we did a tour of about 20 dates. More of that is on the way. VYPE: Did you get to see the Heritage Hall championship game? GC: Definitely. I drove 19 hours from Raleigh, N.C., to see it. It sounds a little "Varsity Blues,'' but it's such an honor to go back. Now those kids get to share that bond of winning. It's about playing football with your friends. What a great honor for those guys. I think that team is the best ever at Heritage Hall. VYPE: So, what's playing on your iPod now? GC: Oh man. A little of everything. It changes daily. Love Tom Petty. The Beatles. 60s and 70s music. VYPE: What do you like to watch on TV? GC: Being on tour, I don't watch that much, but I do like The Office. I love 30 Rock. Again, I'm gone so much. It's a crazy schedule. I haven't ever seen Lost or Heroes. There's a lot of stuff I'm not up on, that's for sure. VYPE: Who's made a big difference musically in your life? GC: There are three people I've met who I can think of immediately. Jacob Dylan has been a good friend, Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows. I got to spend a lot of time with him. Also, his CD was the first CD I put in my car when I was 16. My biggest mentor is Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra. He and I have daily contact. We speak the same language. We talk football and we talk music. He had twins and named one of them Graham. I think he likes the name. not after me. VYPE: What else are you up to besides your music? GC: Wes and I both, through the help of Chesapeake, do a lot of charity work. We visit a lot of places.I did a concert at the Lyric Theater that will be an annual event for the Oklahoma Food Bank. We raise a bunch of money and provide a lot of meals. Those things make me very proud.