From cricket to keys: Graham Hudson’s musical journey
Retired cricketer Graham Hudson hits a new rhythm, transforming KZN’s music scene with HudSounds Music Company.
Former professional cricketer Graham Hudson had no idea what to do to keep himself occupied after retiring.
He played club and county cricket in New Zealand and England before returning home to KZN just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Becoming bored during lockdown, he took to playing the piano, something he did as a child. One day after the end of lockdown, he sat down at Windermere Centre in Durban and began playing a baby grand piano.
“When people started leaving coins on the piano, I realised I could turn this into something meaningful. I had all the time in the world but nothing to do,” said Hudson, who now lives in Umdloti.
“So, I contacted anyone who had a piano and asked to play.”
Before long, Hudson was playing at the Lifestyle Centre, Oyster Box, and the Beverly Hills Hotel, among other venues. After months of playing the circuit, his contacts grew, and he began to collaborate with other musicians.
By mid-2021, he started HudSounds Music Company, booking bands and DJs for retail spaces, corporate events, and weddings. Hudson is now a certified vendor for upmarket hotels and venues across KZN. Thanks to his contacts, he began organising gigs for fellow artists.
A chance meeting with the owner of the Ballito Farmers Market saw Graham organise the music line-up for the weekend market.
“I want artists to get paid their worth,” said Hudson, “not just play in a pub for a beer and burger.”
His ultimate goal is to make KZN’s music scene thrive, especially on the North Coast.
Hudson is also working with Lyric Lounge Theatre, the newly built 250-seat venue at Odyssey Mall in Ballito, where he hosts open mic nights to give aspiring musicians the opportunity to play in front of a crowd.
“I want to try and build careers, getting venues to invest in musicians instead of playing a Spotify playlist to fill the background noise.”
Graham can be contacted on Instagram: @hudsounds.mc; Facebook: HudSounds MC; or hudsounds.com
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