David Rawlings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Rawlings
|
|
|---|---|
David Rawlings performing in 2014
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | December 30, 1969 North Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Associated acts | Gillian Welch, Willie Watson, John Paul Jones |
David Todd Rawlings (born December 30, 1969) is an American musician. He is a talented guitarist, singer, and record producer. David is best known for working with singer and songwriter Gillian Welch.
Together, David and Gillian have achieved great things. They were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for their song "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings". This song was featured in the movie The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. In 2020, they released an album called All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone). This album won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2021.
Contents
David's Musical Journey
David Rawlings went to the Berklee College of Music. There, he learned a lot about music. He has produced albums for many artists, including Gillian Welch. He also worked with bands like Dawes and Old Crow Medicine Show.
In the mid-2010s, David led his own band. It was called the Dave Rawlings Machine. The band included David, Gillian Welch, Willie Watson, Paul Kowert, and Brittany Haas. Sometimes, John Paul Jones from the famous band Led Zeppelin would even play with them!
David has also played on albums by other musicians. His singing style is often compared to the legendary Bob Dylan.
His Albums
David Rawlings has released several albums. Some are with his band, and others are under his own name or with Gillian Welch.
A Friend of a Friend (2009)
The Dave Rawlings Machine released their first album, A Friend of a Friend, in 2009. David recorded and produced it himself in Nashville. Gillian Welch helped write five of the songs. Other musicians from bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Bright Eyes also played on the album.
Nashville Obsolete (2015)
In 2015, the Dave Rawlings Machine released their second album, Nashville Obsolete. It was even named one of the top country albums by Rolling Stone magazine.
Poor David's Almanack (2017)
Poor David's Almanack came out in 2017. This was the first album released under the name David Rawlings. Gillian Welch and Willie Watson were part of the backup band. The album was recorded in Nashville. Its cover features a special woodcut artwork made by Gillian Welch.
One song from the album, "Cumberland Gap," was used in the 2019 movie The Gentlemen. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song.
All the Good Times (Are Past and Gone) (2020)
In 2020, David and Gillian Welch released All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone). They recorded this album at their home during the 2020 lockdowns. It features cover songs and traditional tunes. This album was special because it was the first time both their names were on the album cover. It won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2021.
David's Special Guitar
David Rawlings is known for his unique guitar sound. He plays a small archtop guitar from 1935. It's an Epiphone Olympic model. This guitar was not very expensive when it was new. It has a carved sprucewood top and mahogany back and sides.
David found this guitar in a friend's garage. It was dirty and didn't even have strings! He cleaned it up and had a new bridge made for it. When he first heard it through a microphone during a recording session, he loved its sound. Now, it's his main instrument.
Discography
Dave Rawlings Machine
- A Friend of a Friend (Acony, 2009)
- Nashville Obsolete (Acony, 2015)
David Rawlings
- Poor David's Almanack (Acony, 2017)
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
- All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone) (Acony, 2020)
- Woodland (Acony, 2024)
Gillian Welch
- Revival (Almo Sounds, 1996)
- Hell Among the Yearlings (Acony, 1998)
- Time (The Revelator) (Acony, 2001)
- Soul Journey (Acony, 2003)
- The Harrow & The Harvest (Acony, 2011)
- Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg (Acony, 2016)
- Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs (Acony, 2020)
