TMI asked Grady Champion what it’s been like to be the youngest of his father’s 28 children.  Obviously the holidays were always interesting with a family that size!

GC: My oldest brother that’s living right now is 86 years old.  I’m 42.  My daddy was 71 when I was born, and my mom was 28.  We didn’t all grow up in the same house because most of my siblings were older than my mom.  I went up to New York this past Thanksgiving to visit my 84 year old brother.  There’s a lot of knowledge that comes from having brothers that old, especially with my dad dying when I was only three months old.    [But] Christmas is always great!  My oldest brother would always help my momma out with that since my daddy had passed.  It’s interesting because I didn’t realize he was my brother since he was so much older.  It didn’t click with me until I grew up.  But, it’s nice to have such a large family!   

To read more about Grady Champion and his music, read the blues issue.