Gavin Degraw

Gavin DeGraw was born on February 4, 1977, in South Fallsburg, New York. He began playing piano and singing at the age of eight, growing up in a musical family that viewed music as an integral part of daily life. During his teenage years, DeGraw discovered the music of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, which influenced his developing musical style. He briefly attended Ithaca College on a music scholarship before transferring to Berklee College of Music. Ultimately, he decided to focus on writing his own songs and moved to Manhattan.

In March 1998, DeGraw relocated to Manhattan, establishing himself within the New York music scene through open-mic nights. This led to being signed by Clive Davis to J Records, a label known for artists like Alicia Keys and Santana. His debut album, “Chariot,” was released on July 22, 2003. The album gained significant attention when its lead single, “I Don’t Want to Be,” became the theme song for the television series “One Tree Hill.” “Chariot” achieved platinum certification, selling over a million copies, with subsequent singles “Chariot” and “Follow Through” also reaching gold status.

DeGraw’s career progressed with the release of his self-titled second album in 2008, featuring the top 40-single “In Love with a Girl.” His fourth album, “Sweeter” (2011), marked a notable success with the hit single “Not Over You,” co-written with Ryan Tedder, which reached the top spot on the Adult Pop Songs chart and achieved platinum certification. In 2013, his duet with Colbie Caillat, “We Both Know,” earned a Grammy Award nomination. He continued to release albums, including “Make a Move” (2013), “Something Worth Saving” (2016), and “Face the River” (2022), the latter being a tribute to his late parents. DeGraw signed with Sony Music Nashville in 2023, and in 2024, he announced “Chariot 20,” a re-recorded version of his debut album to commemorate its 20th anniversary.