Gavin DeGraw

Born in South Fallsburg, New York, Gavin DeGraw developed a singer-songwriter approach rooted in pop rock and soul with a central piano presence, touches of folk, soft rock and later country. After making a name for himself on New York’s club scene in the early 2000s, he released his debut album Chariot in 2003, which established his style with direct melodies, a slightly gritty voice and understated production. The song “I Don’t Want to Be,” used as the theme for the series One Tree Hill, brought wide exposure to his work. He followed with Gavin DeGraw in 2008, Free in 2009 and Sweeter in 2011, where his writing at times moved toward more radio-friendly pop without losing its soul base. Make a Move appeared in 2013, the same year as the duet “We Both Know” with Colbie Caillat, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category. With Something Worth Saving (2016) and Face the River (2022), Gavin DeGraw returned to a more stripped-back sound focused on voice, piano and arrangements with American inflections.