Devon Harris better known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy Award

Grammy Award

A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

 winning producer

Record producer

A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

 and songwriter

Songwriter

A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

. Springsteen launched the career of multi-platinum selling recording artist John Legend

John Legend

John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...

 by signing him to Kanye West

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...

’s GOOD Music

GOOD Music

GOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...

 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

The Last Poets

The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread...

, Ol' Dirty Bastard

Ol' Dirty Bastard

Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...

, Rhymefest

Rhymefest

Che Smith , known by the stage name of Rhymefest, is an American hip hop artist from Chicago, Illinois whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released on July 11, 2006. He co-wrote Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", which won a Grammy at the 47th Grammy Awards. In October, 2010, Rhymefest announced...

, Estelle, Consequence

Consequence (rapper)

Dexter Mills , better known as Consequence, is an American rapper. He is the cousin of rapper Q-Tip of the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, and was formerly an affiliate of Kanye West's GOOD Music family. Consequence debuted in 1996 on A Tribe Called Quest's album Beats, Rhymes, and Life...

, 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

The Pembroke Hill School

The Pembroke Hill School is a nonsectarian, coeducational, private preparatory school for about 1,200 students in preschool through 12th grade, separated into four sections: preschool-2nd grade , 3rd-5th grade , 6th-8th grade , and 9th-12th grade...

 in Kansas City, Missouri and shortly after attended the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...

. 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

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...

) was also to move to New York. Springsteen helped Kanye become adsjusted 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 is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...

.

Devo’s influences include Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...

, the Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

, The Doors

The Doors

The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...

, Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

, Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin

Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...

, Timbaland

Timbaland

Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....

, Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre

Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...

, 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

MTV

MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

, Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...

, and MTV2

MTV2

MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...

. He has appeared on MTV Base, BET

Bet

Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...

 Style, and VH1

VH1

VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...

. 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

Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...

’s recent release Hip Hop Is Dead

Hip Hop Is Dead

Hip Hop Is Dead is the eighth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 15, 2006 on Def Jam Recordings. His first album for the label, it was co-financed by Nas's previous label, Columbia Records, which once distributed for Def Jam...

 and "Misunderstood" on Common

Common (rapper)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....

's new album, Finding Forever

Springsteen also co-wrote the track "Let Go" with Britney Spears

Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...

 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

John Legend

John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...

's third studio album Evolver

Evolver (John Legend album)

Evolver is the third studio album by R&B/soul singer John Legend, released by GOOD Music and Columbia Records on October 28, 2008 in the United States and on October 20 in the United Kingdom. It features guest appearances by Kanye West, Brandy, Estelle and Andre 3000, among others.The album debuted...

. The song was also used as President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

'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

Reservoir Media Management

Reservoir Media Management is an independent music publishing company located in the Soho area of New York City. The company was founded in 2007 after acquiring the music catalogs of John Rich, "Big Kenny" Alphin, Vicky McGehee and Bruce Roberts....

 acquired 100% of Springsteen's publishing assets which had formerly been administered by TVT Music Enterprises, LLC

TVT Records

TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...

.

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.

Singles

Year	Title (Album)	Artist/Project	Label Released
2008	"If You're Out There"	John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...	Sony/Columbia
2008	"Association"	Nas Nas Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...	The N Mixtape
2008	"The Promise"	Deborah Cox Deborah Cox Deborah Cox is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart , a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on...	Deco Recording Group
2008	"You Know Where My Heart Is"	Deborah Cox Deborah Cox Deborah Cox is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart , a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on...	Deco Recording Group
2007	"What Y'all Came To Do"	Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...	J Records J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
2007	"Misunderstood" (Finding Forever)	Common Common (rapper) Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....	GOOD Music GOOD Music GOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...
2007	"Always Lovin' You"	Kreesha Turner	Virgin Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
2007	"Celebrate"	Cassidy	J Records J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
2007	"To Love, Let Go"	Britney Spears Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...	Jive Records Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
2007	"Sweeter"	Estelle	Homeschool/Atlantic
2007	"Come Together"	Estelle	Homeschool/Atlantic
2007	"Blowin' My Phone Up"	Consequence	Sony/Columbia
2006	"Let There Be Light" (Hip Hop Is Dead)	Nas Nas Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...	IDJ/Sony/Def Jam
2006	"Stereo" (Once Again)	John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...	Sony/Columbia
2006	"My Love, My Life"	GLC	GOOD Music GOOD Music GOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...
2006	"When I Was..."	Rhymefest	J Records J Records J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
2006	"Back In The Day"	The Last Poets The Last Poets The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread...	Jambetta
2005	"Diamonds from Sierra Leone Diamonds from Sierra Leone "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" is a Grammy-winning song by American rap artist Kanye West. It was released on July 4, 2005 as the lead single of his second studio album, Late Registration. The song contains a sample of the theme song for the 1971 James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever as performed by... " (Late Registration)	Kanye West Kanye West Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...	Roc-a-fella/IDJ
2004	"Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)" (Get Lifted)	John Legend	Sony/Columbia
2004	"So High" (Get Lifted)	John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...	Sony/Columbia
2004	"Live It Up" (Get Lifted)	John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...	Sony/Columbia
2004	"Sunkist Sunlab Radio"	Dr Pepper/Sunkist Soda	Radio Spot
2004	"And You Say"	Consequence	SureShot Records
2003	"Summer Beach House Direct Effect Theme"	MTV MTV MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....	TV Spot

Grammy Award history

Year	Category	Song/Album	Artist	Result
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