The Legacy Of Max Graham Continues

Max Graham, a Minnesotan musician who passed away in March, is being remembered through a new Non-Profit organization called Great Lakes Association of Musicians & Artists (GLAMA).

Photo courtesy of Hannah and Andrea Graham

Andrea Graham and Hannah Graham, the sister and wife of Max Graham, are continuing his life and dreams through a non-profit organization called the Great Lakes Association of Musicians and Artists. Max Graham was a member of the Kind Country Band, which was well known in and around Minnesota. 

“We decided to establish GLAMA after my brother Max, Hannah's husband, died by suicide last March,” Andrea Graham said. “He always had a vision for a community-focused, celebration-focused organization.” 

Hannah and Andrea Graham felt that they were able to channel all their energy with their grief and coping and give back in a way that Max Graham would have if he was still here but also honoring him and his story. 

“What happened to our family, we hope never happens to another family,” Andrea said

“Our goal is really twofold. One is to provide tangible support to artists and musicians, and that's one thing we saw as Max’s family until his death, is this profound struggle with mental health and a lack of resources,” Hannah Graham said.

Andrea Graham said, “the goal is to support the community and others through events, gatherings, additional resources, and celebrating their work.” They want to create a whole community to help others get inspired and grow.

“The community extended Max’s life,” Hannah Graham said. The lack of community due to the COVID-19 pandemic is what resulted in Max's life being shortened. They want to make sure that the community always has the support they need to be successful and happy. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health is a topic that has been given light, since more people were suffering after being in lockdown for several months. According to the CDC, suicide attempts stayed relatively the same during the early months of the pandemic, but in May of 2020, emergency department related suicides increased by 50.6% among teen girls. 

Hannah and Andrea Graham’s goal is to help others, especially those in the artist and music community. Andrea described an artist's work environment as an island, because you are usually independent. 

They want artists to do their own thing but also have a support system. Hannah Graham has a background in mental health and works as a school counselor, and even that was not enough help for Max. 

Maggie Gustafson, the manager and owner of The Ripple Bar in Duluth, said she met Max Graham about 10 years ago. 

“He was playing music, we hung out at a festival, and he came to the campsite my husband and I were camping at and we hung out with him and his bandmate Johnny the entire night,” she said. She also said the band would sometimes stay at her house when they were in town. Gustason said Max Graham was “larger than life, he was the coolest, nicest, you can't even put into words the person he was.”

Gustafson said: “It's amazing, I couldn't be happier the way they are using his legacy the way they are. And with how everything ended I think it's the perfect way to keep it going, and you know there are a lot of people in the music industry who don't have the support they need.”

Hannah Graham had mentioned that The Ripple was the last public place she had seen Max Graham perform. 

Another person who knew Max Graham as the person he was is Harrison Oak. He was a bandmate of his and a longtime friend. 

“We had known each other for about 10 years or so, and I was in a different band up in Duluth and he was in Kind Country,” Oak said. 

Oak said he eventually moved out of Duluth to a different part of the  Midwest but eventually found his way back to Minnesota in May of 2020 and became a full-time banjo player for Kind Country. 

Oak said one of his favorite memories with Max Graham is when he was living in Portland, Oregon, and Kind Country was traveling out there to perform in the String Summit Music Festival, and Max had asked him to sit in on a few tunes with him. 

He then said he heard most of the band was staying in a hotel nearby, and he offered to get Max Graham a tent so he could camp with Harrison and his friends. 

“I don't think we slept much that weekend,” Oak said

He added that the one thing that Max Graham always did was make him feel “Included.” Max Graham had a way of making anyone feel like they belonged. 

Oak believes that this starting GLAMA is something that Max Graham would have loved. 

Oak said, “I think Max would be floored. You know it sounds like something Max always had a vision for.”

Max Graham had a special way of inviting people into his life and making sure they are taken care of. 

Oak said, “Max always wanted everyone to feel welcomed and taken care of, and this association is the answer to that to help a lot of people who are struggling and to give people a resource.” 

Hannah Graham said her favorite way to talk about Max Graham is “how he brought people into his orbit, and it didn't matter who you were or how cool you were.” Andrea described Max as “the kid who would walk into the lunchroom and see the new kid sitting alone and go sit with them. Max always saw an opportunity in everything.”

Some people may have seen Max Graham as this always amazing artist, but according to Hannah Graham, he struggled. He wasn't a perfect person. He wasn't always the public persona. he wasn't always this shining beaming light and he struggled with mental health. 

The Graham family hosted a celebration of life event, which consisted of music, friends and family at his partner's farm on Sept. 18th which according to Andrea Graham this was Max’s “forever vision.” This was also the kick-off to GLAMA, which had around 500 people in attendance.

Looking forward, they hope to grow this organization into something just as big, if not bigger, than Max Graham himself. 

Anderea Graham said, “We are currently in conversations with some founding funders to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row with the IRS and just make sure so we can start to grow and bring on staff and build all these resources over the next year.” 

This Minnesota musician had a big life and big dreams, and that life and those dreams now get to be continued through GLAMA. His legacy gets to continue through the Great Lakes Association of Artists and Musicians so that other artists can get the help and resources they need. 

If you are looking to connect and become a part of GLAMA you can go to their website and or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.