Rolf Graf

Rolf Graf (28 April 1960 – 1 July 2013) was a Norwegian singer, bass guitarist, composer and record producer, and the younger brother of keyboardist Haakon Graf (b. 21 March 1955) and the jazz singer Randi Elisabeth Graf (b. 12 September 1966). He is best known as the bassist in the band Lava, but was also recognized as music producer, musician and songwriter for other artists like Randy Crawford, Mezzoforte and Sissel Kyrkjebø. He also released three solo albums and was editor of the journal Musikkpraksis.

Career Musician Graf was born and died in Oslo, Norway. He was raised in a musical family and was greatly inspired by his older brother Haakon known from bands like 'Ruphus', 'Hawk on Flight', and collaborations with such as Terje Rypdal and Jan Garbarek. Graf started his career in 1967 on trumpet, and debuted as a soloist 1 Christmas Day 1972 in Manglerud church.

In 1974 he substituted the trumpet to bass guitar and started the following year a rock band together with the guitarist Marius Müller. In 1979 he got his first professional studio job as a funk bass player. Graf was among the first funk bassists in Norway that restrained slap and snap technique, and the artist and vocalist Alex, or Alex Naumik Sandøy, who was among the first artists to introduced the funk rock in Norway, hired him to play on her album Daddy Child, because her bass player and producer Svein Gundersen failed to play this new style.

The same year he also received a request from Svein Dag Hauge to join the band Lava, where Marius Müller just had joined and recommended Graf, after meeting with Hauge. Lava's second album Cruisin''', sold to Silver and climbed the charts. Grafs first composition, "Take Your Time" (with lyrics by Ivar Dyrhaug), climbed to the top of the European summit. Seven CD album was recorded at Lava and a variety of studio work, as well as a composer and producer on numerous recordings.

In 1985 Graf recorded his debut solo album The Boy Next Door, which was released in 13 European countries. This led to appearances in British and Danish TV shows. From the mid 1980s onwards 1990s Graf worked in various compositions, including with Olav Stedje og Egil Eldøen in the band project 'Stedje/Graf/Eldøen', and this was the first band to play at the opening of Rockefeller Music Hall in 1986. Otherwise contributed Graf as a studio musician with artists like Sissel Kyrkjebø, Randy Crawford and Elisabeth Andreassen.

Discography

Solo albums 1985: The Boy Next Door (Mariann) 1997: Floating (MultiMusic) 2001: Oddity To Acceptance (MultiMusic)

Collaborations Tom Bråthen & Phoenix 1979: Jeg Drømmer Om NashvilleLava 1980: Lava (Polydor Records) 1981: Cruisin' (Polydor Records) 1982: Prime Time (Polydor Records) 1984: Fire (Polydor Records) 1985: Prime Cuts (Polydor Records) 1990: Rhythm of Love (Polydor Records) 1996: The Very Best of Lava (Polydor Records) 2003: Polarity (Polydor Records) 2005: Alibi (album)|Alibi (Polydor Records) 2009: Symphonic Journey (Polydor Records)

Svein Strøm 1980: My Life Is My LifeGry Jannicke Jarlum 1981: Alhambra1986: Here We Go AgainTrond-Viggo Torgersen 1981: Det by'ner nå!1997: Trond-Viggos besteMarius Müller 1981: Den Du Veit1982: Er'e Så Nøye 'A1983: MariusPrima Vera 1981: Den 5teDollie de Luxe 1981: Dollies dagbok1982: First ActTrond Granlund 1981: Pleasant SurpriseOlav Stedje 1982: Hilde Heltberg1991: Girls Don'tThorleif Larsen alias Igor Kill 1983: Igor KillVazelina Bilopphøggers 1983: Vælkømmin Tel ØssBjarte Leithaug 1984: En underlig familieArnold Børud 1984: Balladen Om Jesus – Rock-OperaForente artister 1985: Sammen For LivetAlf Cranner 1985: Din tanke er friBobbysocks 1985: Bobbysocks1986: Waiting for the MorningRandi Hansen 1985: Ansiktet i speiletMr. Walker and the Walkmen 1985: WalkingRandy Crawford 1988: Living in a Boy's WorldSmall Affairs 1988: Out of MemoryRita Eriksen 1988: Back from Wonderland (1988)

Mezzoforte 1989: Tvers synger CrouchViggo & Reidar 1989: Tidligere utgitt på alvorRomance 1989: AngelOla Fjellvikås 1989: Min Mona LisaCaptain Miracle 1990: Voyage To Sensational Alex Harvey BandTinDrum 1991: Cool, Calm and CollectedOks Singers & Band 1992: Live! Camp MeetingHanne Krogh 1994: 40 BesteTorhild Nigar 1994: Stille VannJan Werner Danielsen 1994: All By MyselfElisabeth Andreassen 1996: I evighet1996: EternityBare Egil Band 1996: Absolutt Ikke Bare Egil BandMerethe Trøan 1996: Æ Gir Dæ Min Vår1996: Søtt & Salt (1996) 1996: Kom Te Mæ (1996) 1997: Ild & vann (1997)

Jannicke Abrahamsen 199: Jannicke 7KLM 1998: De 3 Vise Männen2008: 1000 GångerOslo Gospel Choir 1999: Millenium1999: PowerØyvind Blunck 1999: Fridtjofs HelaftenKikki, Bettan & Lotta 2002: Vem é dé du vill haFloweryard 2003: FriTommy Michaelsen 2005: CompletelyTrygve Wikstøl 2006: HeiDet Betales 2007: Har du det bra?2007: Guri & en ChevyHovedøen Social Club 2009: Ay caramba!Otto Graf 2009: AutographsCecilie Nesstrand 2011: Tør du tenke, with Jan Toft 2011: Ett LivOther projects