DeVon "Devo" Harris (born December 9, 1977), also known as Devo Springsteen, is an American producer and songwriter.[1] Harris launched the career of EGOT winner John Legend by signing him to Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2003. Harris produced and co-wrote many songs from Legend's first albums, as well as songs for Nas, Britney Spears, Aretha Franklin, Ol' Dirty Bastard, The Last Poets, and more in addition to DJing around the world. Devo won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2006 for his production of "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" by Kanye West. After earning his MBA from Columbia Business School in 2011, Devo turned to technology where he became a media entrepreneur and inventor.
Devo Harris | |
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Birth name | DeVon Harris |
Born | (1977-12-09) December 9, 1977 (age 44) |
Origin | Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
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Years active | 1994–present |
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Harris grew up in the U.S. and Germany. Both of his parents were in the U.S. Army. He graduated high school from The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri, and then attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, he wrestled, played football, and DJed at local radio stations WPPR and WQHS FM. After graduating with degrees in Economics and Strategic Management, he moved to New York City in 2000 with college roommate John Legend. While working in venture capital, he began working part-time assisting and serving as A&R at the production company G.O.O.D. Music (then called Konman Productions). Devo eventually signed Legend to the label in 2003 and managed his project. Devo then earned an MBA degree from Columbia Business School.
Devo's influences include Stevie Wonder, The Doors, Michael Jackson, Rick Rubin, Timbaland, and Dr. Dre. Harris has appeared on MTV Base, BET Style, and VH1 and was a featured guest DJ on BET's Rap City.
Harris also co-wrote the tracks "Lullaby" and "Let's Go" with Britney Spears and Tom Craskey. The song appeared on the demo version of Britney's album Blackout.
In 2008, Harris collaborated with John Legend on "If You're Out There" which appears in John Legend's third studio album Evolver. The song was used Barack Obama's campaign theme song and was performed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
In 2010, Harris created an interactive music video, "Attack of the 5 foot Hipster",[2] by U.S. band Riot In Paris, which debuted on UniverseCity blog and was noted as the first interactive choose-your-own-adventure music video in the U.S. After graduating from Columbia Business School in 2011, Harris started his career in technology by teaching himself to code and launched Red Ochre Inc. in 2014. Soon after, he would become a Senior Product Manager at Vimeo.
In 2020, Harris launched Adventr, an interactive streaming platform.[3] In September 2021, Adventr became a finalist in the 2021 TechCrunch Disrupt Conference and announced its patent on voice-controlled interactive media.[4]
Year | Title (Album) | Artist/Project | Label Released |
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2008 | "If You're Out There" | John Legend | GOOD/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/Geffen |
2007 | "Always Lovin' You" | Kreesha Turner | Virgin |
2007 | "Celebrate" | Cassidy | J Records |
2007 | "Let Go"[5] | Britney Spears | Jive Records |
2007 | "Sweeter" | Estelle | Homeschool/Atlantic |
2007 | "Come Together" | Estelle | Homeschool/Atlantic |
2007 | "Blowin' My Phone Up" | Consequence | GOOD/Sony/Columbia |
2006 | "Let There Be Light" (Hip Hop Is Dead) | Nas | IDJ/Sony/Def Jam |
2006 | "Stereo" (Once Again) | John Legend | GOOD/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 | GOOD/Sony/Columbia |
2004 | "So High" (Get Lifted) | John Legend | GOOD/Sony/Columbia |
2004 | "Live It Up" (Get Lifted) | John Legend | GOOD/Sony/Columbia |
2004 | "Sunkist Sunlab Radio" | Sunkist Soda | |
2004 | "And You Say" | Consequence | SureShot Records |
2003 | "Summer Beach House Direct Effect Theme" | MTV |
Year | Category | Song/Album | Artist | Result |
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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 |
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