Page 12 - Poze Magazine Volume 87

GRAFTON HOWARD

Learning the Language of Music
By adolescence, Grafton’s gift had
outgrown living-room shows. He sang
with The Salvation Harmonizers,
recorded with The Middleburg
Harmonizers, and fronted the
regional soul group Galaxy, earning

local acclaim for his blend of gospel
conviction and soulful polish. During
this period he also toured with the
contemporary Christian rock group
GLAD, whose members Chris Davis
From Quarters to Calling and Tom Beard became musical
Stationed with his family at Fort mentors and friends.
Lewis in Seattle, Grafton quickly

became the highlight of his
father’s military gatherings. His
mother would spin a record, and
he’d jump into the center of the
room, imitating James Brown
with uncanny accuracy — spins,
splits, and soul. The servicemen
would cheer and toss quarters at

his feet — twenty-five-cent
tributes to a boy already moving
in purpose. Those nights became
his first stage, his first audience,
his first taste of connection
through sound.