Gavin DeGraw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gavin DeGraw
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Gavin DeGraw live in concert 2023
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gavin Shane DeGraw |
| Born | February 4, 1977 South Fallsburg, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
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| Associated acts | The Gavin DeGraw band |
Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American singer and songwriter. He is famous for his song "I Don't Want to Be" from his first album, Chariot (2003). The song became the theme for the popular TV drama One Tree Hill. Other hit singles from that album include the title track "Chariot" and "Follow Through".
His second album, Gavin DeGraw (2008), featured the popular single "In Love with a Girl". His fourth album, Sweeter (2011), had the hit song "Not Over You". Over the years, he has released several other successful albums, including Make a Move (2013) and Something Worth Saving (2016).
In 2022, he released the album Face the River. He also made a documentary about making the album and dealing with the loss of his parents. DeGraw also received a Grammy Award nomination for his duet "We Both Know" with Colbie Caillat.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Gavin DeGraw was born on February 4, 1977, and grew up in South Fallsburg, New York. His mother, Lynne, was a nurse, and his father, John Wayne DeGraw, was a corrections officer. He mentioned their jobs in his song "I Don't Want to Be".
DeGraw started singing and playing the piano when he was only eight years old. He grew up in a musical family with his older brother, Joey, who is also a musician. Music was a big part of their everyday life. As a teenager, DeGraw was inspired by legendary artists like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke.
On his brother's advice, DeGraw began writing his own songs. He went to Ithaca College with a music scholarship but soon left to focus on songwriting. He then moved to Boston and attended the famous Berklee College of Music for two semesters.
Music Career
Starting in New York
In 1998, DeGraw moved to Manhattan to start his music career. He began performing at a local club and quickly gained a following. His talent caught the attention of record executive Clive Davis, and DeGraw signed a deal with J Records.
In 2002, DeGraw started working on his first album, Chariot. He wanted to create music that would last and not just be a passing trend. He said that learning to record music in a studio was a new and educational experience for him.
Rise to Fame with 'Chariot'
DeGraw became famous in 2003 when his song "I Don't Want to Be" was chosen as the theme for the TV show One Tree Hill. The song was a huge hit, reaching number 10 on the U.S. charts.
His album Chariot was released on July 22, 2003. It sold over a million copies. The album also had other hit singles like "Follow Through" and the title track, "Chariot." In 2004, he released an acoustic version of the album called Chariot Stripped.
Successful Albums and Hit Songs
DeGraw's second album, also called Gavin DeGraw, came out in 2008. It included the hit single "In Love with a Girl" and reached No. 7 on the Billboard album chart. His third album, Free (2009), featured live fan favorites.
His fourth album, Sweeter (2011), was a big success. It had the platinum-selling single "Not Over You", which was co-written with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. This song became his first No. 1 hit on the Adult Pop Songs chart.
In 2013, DeGraw released his fifth album, Make a Move. The first single was "Best I Ever Had". The following year, he released his first greatest hits album, Finest Hour: The Best of Gavin DeGraw.
Recent Work
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In 2016, DeGraw released his sixth album, Something Worth Saving. In 2022, his seventh album, Face the River, was released as a tribute to his parents.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first album, DeGraw released a re-recorded version called Chariot 20 on September 27, 2024. In 2023, he also released a Christmas EP and signed with Sony Music Nashville.
On January 20, 2025, DeGraw performed at a ball for the second inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
Other Projects
Acting and Dancing
DeGraw has appeared on One Tree Hill four times. He performed his songs "I Don't Want to Be" and "Chariot" on the show. In the final episode, he sang three of his songs at a party.
In 2012, DeGraw competed on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff.
The National Underground
In 2007, DeGraw and his brother Joey opened The National Underground, a music bar in Manhattan. They wanted it to be a place where talented musicians could perform. The brothers also own other venues in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bozeman, Montana.
Personal Life
In August 2011, DeGraw was injured in an incident in Manhattan. He was hospitalized but made a full recovery.
DeGraw has faced personal losses in recent years. His mother, Lynne, passed away in 2017. His father, John Wayne, passed away in 2020. His album Face the River is dedicated to their memory.
Band Members
Gavin DeGraw performs with a live band. Here are some of the current and past members who have played with him.
Current members
- Gavin DeGraw – lead vocals, piano, guitar (1997–present)
- William Gramling - piano (2023-present)
- Tyler Cain - guitar (2023-present)
- Thomas Drayton - bass (2023-present)
- Jon Epcar- drums (2023-present)
Former members
- James Cruz – bass guitar
- David Maemone – keyboards
- Mike Baker – drums
- Johnny "Tsunami" Andrews – lead guitar
- Joey DeGraw – lead guitar
- Billy Norris – lead guitar, musical director
- Travis McNabb – drums
- Jimmy Wallace – keyboards
Discography
Studio Albums
- Chariot (2003)
- Gavin DeGraw (2008)
- Free (2009)
- Sweeter (2011)
- Make a Move (2013)
- Something Worth Saving (2016)
- Face the River (2022)
- Chariot 20 (2024)
Greatest Hits Album
- Finest Hour: The Best of Gavin DeGraw (2014)
Major Tours
- Headlining
- Gavin Degraw Live in Concert (2004)
- Chariot Stripped Tour (2005)
- Sweeter Tour (2012)
- Make a Move Tour (2014)
- An Acoustic Evening with Gavin DeGraw (2017)
- Raw Tour (2017–18)
- Co-headlining
- One Tree Hill Concert Tour (with Tyler Hilton and The Wreckers) (2005)
- David Cook & Gavin DeGraw in Concert (with David Cook) (2011)
- Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw in Concert (with Colbie Caillat) (2012)
- Gavin DeGraw & Andy Grammer: Live in Concert (with Andy Grammer) (2016)
- 2018 Summer Tour (with Philip Phillips) (2018)
Awards and Nominations
Gavin DeGraw has been recognized for his music with several awards and nominations.
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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| 2005 | Billboard Music Award | Top Soundtrack Single of the Year | "I Don't Want to Be" | Nominated |
| 2006 | BMI Pop Awards | Award-Winning Song | "Chariot" | Won |
| "I Don't Want to Be" | Won | |||
| 2009 | BMI Pop Awards | Award-Winning Song | "In Love with a Girl" | Won |
| 2014 | Grammy Awards | Best Song Written for Visual Media | "We Both Know" | Nominated |
Images for kids
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Gavin DeGraw OKC concert August 23, 2023
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DeGraw performing at the Des Moines Arts Festival on June 27, 2009
See also
In Spanish: Gavin DeGraw para niños
- List of Berklee College of Music alumni
- List of Ithaca College alumni
- List of people from New York
- List of singer-songwriters
