Devo Springsteen

Devon Harris (born December 9, 1977, in Columbus, GA), better known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur.^[1] 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.

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 adjusted 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 holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School.

Springsteen’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.^[2]

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

Mixtapes

• 2006, "Bacardi Big Apple & Devo Springsteen Present: The Good Life"

Grammy Award history

References

• AllHipHop Feature - Devo Springsteen: Whip It!
• BigMusicBiz.com Interview - Devo Springsteen