David Ryan Harris

David Ryan Harris was born in 1967 or 1968 in Evanston, Illinois, and later moved to Atlanta at a young age. His musical journey began in the 1980s as the frontman for the Atlanta rock band Follow for Now. The band’s eclectic sound, influenced by Motown and thrash metal, led to a record deal with Chrysalis Records and the release of their self-titled album in 1991, followed by tours with acts such as Pearl Jam and Faith No More. After the band dissolved in 1994, Harris transitioned to working as a producer and guitarist for Dionne Farris, contributing significantly to her 1995 album, ‘Wild Seed, Wild Flower’.

Starting his solo career in 1997, Harris signed with Columbia Records and released his critically acclaimed debut album. He then co-founded the trio Brand New Immortals with drummer Kenny Creswell and bassist Johnny Colt, releasing a six-track EP and later the album ‘Tragic Show’ in 2001 through Elektra Records. Following the band’s dissolution, Harris continued his solo work alongside extensive collaborations. From 2004 to 2012, he was a member of John Mayer’s band, rejoining in 2017. His versatility positioned him to work with artists such as Dave Matthews, Santana, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and India.Arie.

Beyond performing, Harris has a notable career in songwriting and production. He co-wrote “Like it Like That” for Guy Sebastian in 2009, which became a number one hit and triple platinum in Australia. In 2012, he co-wrote Guy Sebastian’s “Battle Scars” featuring Lupe Fiasco, achieving number one status and 9x platinum in Australia, and also reaching number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with platinum certification for 1 million sales. Harris also produced Amali Ward’s debut album ‘Back in Time’ in 2011 and played guitar on Nick Jonas and the Administration’s album ‘Who I Am’ released in 2010. His most recent solo album, ‘Songs For Other People’, was released in 2017, showcasing collaborations from previous years.