Gavin DeGraw
American singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is most known for the songs “Chariot”, “In Love with a Girl” and “I Don’t Want to Be”, a single which is being used for the longtime TV drama One Tree Hill. In just a few years, DeGraw has become one of the premier singer-songwriters in the music industry.
Raised in South Fallsburg, New York, Gavin DeGraw started singing and playing the piano at 8 years old. He studied at Berklee College of Music, along with celebrated singer John Mayer. His guitarist brother was the one who actually told him to write his own songs. The brother, Joey DeGraw is presently a part of Gavin’s band, as he plays guitar and provides backup vocals for some of his songs.
Gavin DeGraw used to play along with Andrew West and Lenny Revell, both pianists, in Manhattan clubs and cafes. The songwriter’s biggest break came when his song “I Don’t Want to Be” was selected to be the theme song of CW Television Network’s One Tree Hill, a drama series that is currently on its seventh season. Aside from One Tree Hill, the same song has been performed on Australian Idol, Canadian Idol and American Idol by various contestants, furthering Gavin DeGraw’s exposure in the music scene. Some of the similarly popular songs by the singer are “Chariot,” “Follow Through,” and “We Belong Together,” which was aired in the movie Tristan and Isolde. He later recorded an acoustic version of the album Chariot and called it Chariot Stripped. Since his break with One Tree Hill, he has done tours with popular acts like Barenaked Ladies, Howie Day, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5. Furthermore, he has made appearances on various TV shows, such as Last Call with Carson Daly, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Late Show With David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He has also made TV guestings in One Tree Hill as himself, singing the series’ theme song.
Gavin DeGraw’s self-titled sophomore album came out on May 6, 2008, garnering the #7 spot on the US Billboard chart. This record includes the tracks “In Love with a Girl,” “Cheated on Me,” “She Holds the Key,” and “I Have You to Thank.” This particular album has been described as composing of impassioned, emotionally resonant tracks about the joys and pains of love and life. The guy’s third album, Free was released on March 31, 2009. Some of the tracks included are “Stay,” “Mountains to Move,” and “Glass.” This record was reportedly created in less than two weeks at a Brooklyn studio, to keep him from overthinking the songs. DeGraw hopes to continue his successful run and personal connection with his audience with this most recent record.
DeGraw boasts of a magnetic voice in popular music coupled with heartfelt lyrical content and freewheeling melodies. Listen to him and you will definitely get that intimate experience.
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