Dru

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Dru
Birth name Andrew Grange
Also known as Dru
Origin Yourmomshouse, Ontario, Canada
Genres R&B, hip hop, pop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active 2000-present
Labels Effortless Entertainment/MMG/JVC Records
Associated acts In Essence, Doman & Gooding, Lincoln
Website http://www.druofficial.com

Dru (Andrew Grange) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and dancer. He is also a solo artist who grew up in Toronto and has passionately pursued his music career since 1993. The R&B/Soul Juno Award[1] and MuchMusic Video Award (MMVA)winner’s[2] major influences include Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo and Jay-Z.

Dru released his solo, debut album The One in 2008, and the album was rated 3.5 out of 4 stars by the The Toronto Star.[3] He was also named Emerging Artist of the Month" by Canada's #1 CHR/Top 40 station, CHUM FM. Dru's first three singles "The One", "Stay with Me (Always)" and "Seasons" received strong rotation nationally, with videos for all three songs appearing on all major media outlets.

In 2009, Dru topped the radio and video charts in both Canada & the UK as the featured artist on the hit single “Runnin” by renowned DJs Doman & Gooding. The single earned Dru yet another Juno Award nomination in 2010 for “Dance Recording of The Year.”[4] Dru has been identified by Billboard Magazine as "One of the most important emerging Canadian artists"[5] and his success to date reinforces why he deserves such high praise.

Before becoming a solo artist, Dru was the front man for the R&B group In Essence. The group released the critically acclaimed album The Master Plan with hit songs such as "You'll Never Find," which was also featured on Funkmaster Flex's gold release 60 Minutes of Funk Vol. 4, and quickly became a club anthem in New York, Atlanta and Toronto.

Dru has gained international recognition as a force in the industry both as a performer and songwriter. He has written such hits for other foreign recording artists as multiplatinum Korean boy band TVXQ! who covered his song "Stay With Me (Always)". Dru's 2010 single "Flash," performed by Japanese superstar Crystal Kay, was featured in a Japanese TV commercial for Canon’s latest camera. Maintaining his drive and humility, Dru is poised to introduce a new brand and style to the R&B world.

Dru's latest single "Gettin It In,"[6] from his forthcoming album On The Brink, went to radio in August 2011 and is available on iTunes worldwide. The video for "Gettin It In" was serviced to all major TV and online outlets in mid-August. Gettin It In has proven to be one of his most successful singles to date. It has been on the iTunes Top 100 for about 4 months, and has been between 1 and 5 on the R&B Canada chart for the last 2 months. On The Brink was released in Canada on November 29, 2011.

On a February 26 episode of 'Tim & Sid' on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, show co-host Sid Seixeiro confirmed that he attended St. Francis Xavier high school with Dru.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Information
The One
  • First studio album
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Morojele Music Group
  • Format: CD, digital download
On the Brink
  • Second studio album
  • Released: November 29, 2011
  • Label: Effortless Entertainment/Universal Music Canada
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

Year Title CAN Certifications Album
2007 "Stay With Me (Always)" — The One
2008 "What You Wanna Do" —
"Seasons" —
2010 "This Christmas" — non-album single
2011 "Gettin' It In" 50 On the Brink
2012 "She Can Ride" 39

As a featured artist

Year Title Peak Album
CAN
2009 "Runnin'" (Doman & Gooding featuring Lincoln & Dru) 43 non-album single

References

  1. ↑ "R&B/ Soul Recording of the Year 2004". http://www.ctv.ca/mini_v2/junos2004/nominees/rnbsoul.html. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  2. ↑ "2004 MMVAs Winners". http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva04/winners/. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  3. ↑ Infantry, Ashante. "Dru - The One". http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/508505. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  4. ↑ "2010 Juno Award nominees announced!". http://www.tribute.ca/news/index.php/2010-juno-award-nominees-announced/2010/03/03/. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  5. ↑ "Canadian R&B sensation Dru goes solo with his new album The One.". http://www.pennantmediagroup.com/press_releases/tablearticle.php?articleid=65&articleType=. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  6. ↑ "Dru - Gettin It In, iTunes". http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/gettin-it-in-single/id444865511. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  7. ↑ "Canadian digital certifications – Dru – She Can Ride". Music Canada. 

External links

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