- Devo Springsteen
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Devo Springsteen Birth name Devon Harris Born December 9, 1977 Origin Columbus, Georgia,
United StatesGenres R&B, Rap, Pop Occupations Producer, Songwriter, DJ Years active 1994–present Labels 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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Biography
Devo Springsteen grew up in many different regions of the U.S. and lived in Germany for five years because both of his parents were in the U.S. Army. He graduated high school from The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri 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). A couple of months after Springsteen moved to New York, he was made aware by his Aunt that his cousin(Kanye West) was also to move to New York. Springsteen helped Kanye become adsjusted to his new life and soon found himself working 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. He is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Columbia Business School.
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 MTV2. 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
Springsteen also co-wrote the track "Let Go" with Britney Spears and Tom Craskey. The song appeared on the demo version of Britney's album Blackout.
In 2008, Springsteen collaborated with John Legend on "If You're Out There" which appears in John Legend's third studio album Evolver. The song was also used as President Barack Obama's campaign theme song and was performed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Devo Springsteen founded his own label, Champion Sound Entertainment, which will begin operation and distribution in 2009.
In 2010, Reservoir Media Management acquired 100% of Springsteen's publishing assets which had formerly been administered by TVT Music Enterprises, LLC.[1]
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.
Discography
Singles
Year Title (Album) Artist/Project Label Released 2008 "If You're Out There" John Legend Sony/Columbia 2008 "Association" Nas The N Mixtape 2008 "The Promise" Deborah Cox Deco Recording Group 2008 "You Know Where My Heart Is" Deborah Cox Deco Recording Group 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 "To Love, Let Go"[2] Britney Spears Jive 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 Mixtapes
- 2006, "Bacardi Big Apple & Devo Springsteen Present: The Good Life"
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 References
Categories:- African American musicians
- 1977 births
- Musicians from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- American record producers
- American DJs
- University of Pennsylvania alumni
- Living people
- Grammy Award winners
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