Devo Springsteen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Devo Springsteen | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Devon Harris |
| Born | December 9, 1977 |
| Origin | Columbus, Georgia, United States |
| Genre(s) | R&B, Rap, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, Songwriter, DJ |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Label(s) | Astor Place Music / GOOD Music / Geffen Records |
| Website | MySpace |
Devon Harris (born December 9, 1977 in Columbus, GA), better known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter. Springsteen launched the career of multi-platinum selling recording artist John Legend by signing him to Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2003. Springsteen produced and co-wrote “So High”, “Live It Up”, and “Refuge (When it’s Cold Outside)” from Legend’s freshman album Get Lifted. Springsteen has also produced songs for The Last Poets, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Rhymefest, Estelle, Consequence, and won the Best Rap Song Grammy in 2006 for his production of “Diamonds (from Sierra Leone)” with Kanye West. In addition, he is a well known DJ featured at events in London, Sydney, Nairobi, Tokyo, and Johannesburg.
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[edit] Biography
Devo Springsteen grew up in many different regions of the U.S. and lived in Germany for five years due to the fact that both of his parents were in the U.S. Army. He graduated high school in Kansas City and shortly after attended the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, he wrestled and played football but also was active in the Philly club scene - DJing at clubs and parties as well as hosting local radio shows including WPPR and WQHS FM. After graduating from Penn’s Wharton School with a degree in Economics and Strategic Management, he moved to New York in 2000 with college roommate John Stephens (John Legend). Springsteen worked full time at a venture capital firm and part time on music assisting Kanye West with his production company, G.O.O.D. Music (then called Konman Productions). Devo Springsteen accurately recognized the benefits in linking Legend with West and successfully got John Legend signed to Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music record label in 2003.
Devo’s influences include Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, The Doors, Michael Jackson, Rick Rubin, Timbaland, Dr. Dre, and Kanye West.
Not only has Devo Springsteen written and produced for major label artists, but he has also done music for companies such as MTV, Dr Pepper, and MTV 2. He has appeared on MTV Base, BET Style, and VH1. Springsteen was featured as a guest DJ on BET’s Rap City.
More recently, Devo Springsteen produced and co-wrote “Stereo” which appears in John Legend’s 2006 second album Once Again. He also produced and co-wrote “Let There Be Light” on Nas’s recent release Hip Hop Is Dead and "Misunderstood" on Common's new album, Finding Forever
Devo Springsteen is rumored to be working on Michael Jackson next album, scheduled for late 2007, along with Kanye West and John Legend.
Springsteen also co-wrote the track "Let Go" with Britney Spears and Tom Craskey. The song appeared on the demo version of Britney's latest album, Blackout.
[edit] Astor Place Music
Astor Place Music is Springsteen’s multimedia and production company which specializes in innovative marketing campaigns and products connecting corporations with the youth demographic. For example, Astor Place Music launched and executive produces The Good Life mixtape series with Bacardi Big Flavors, which features G.O.O.D. Music artists.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title (Album) | Artist/Project | Label Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "What Y'all Came To Do" | Aretha Franklin | J Records |
| 2007 | "Misunderstood" (Finding Forever) | Common | GOOD Music |
| 2007 | "Always Lovin' You" | Kreesha Turner | Virgin |
| 2007 | "Celebrate" | Cassidy | J Records |
| 2007 | "Sweeter" | Estelle | Homeschool/Atlantic |
| 2007 | "Come Together" | Estelle | Homeschool/Atlantic |
| 2007 | "Blowin' My Phone Up" | Consequence | Sony/Columbia |
| 2006 | "Let There Be Light" (Hip Hop Is Dead) | Nas | IDJ/Sony/Def Jam |
| 2006 | "Stereo" (Once Again) | John Legend | Sony/Columbia |
| 2006 | "My Love, My Life" | GLC | GOOD Music |
| 2006 | "When I Was..." | Rhymefest | J Records |
| 2006 | "Back In The Day" | The Last Poets | Jambetta |
| 2005 | "Diamonds (from Sierra Leone)" (Late Registration) | Kanye West | Roc-a-fella/IDJ |
| 2004 | "Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)" (Get Lifted) | John Legend | Sony/Columbia |
| 2004 | "So High" (Get Lifted) | John Legend | Sony/Columbia |
| 2004 | "Live It Up" (Get Lifted) | John Legend | Sony/Columbia |
| 2004 | "Sunkist Sunlab Radio" | Dr Pepper/Sunkist Soda | Radio Spot |
| 2004 | "And You Say" | Consequence | SureShot Records |
| 2003 | "Summer Beach House Direct Effect Theme" | MTV | TV Spot |
[edit] Mixtapes
- 2006, "Bacardi Big Apple & Devo Springsteen Present: The Good Life"
[edit] Grammy Award history
| Year | Category | Song/Album | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Best Rap Song | "Diamonds (from Sierra Leone)" | Kanye West | Won |
| 2006 | Best Rap Album | "Late Registration" | Kanye West | Won |
| 2006 | Best R&B Album | "Get Lifted" | John Legend | Won |
| 2006 | Best Album | "Late Registration" | Kanye West | Nominated |
