Dru
Encyclopedia
Singer, songwriter
and dancer, Dru (Andrew Grange) is a Canadian solo artist who grew up in Toronto
and has passionately pursued his music
career since 1993. The R&B/Soul Juno Award and MuchMusic Video Award (MMVA)winner’s major influences include Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo and Jay-Z.
Dru released his solo, debut album The One
in 2008, and the album was rated 3.5 out of 4 stars by the The Toronto Star
. He was also named Emerging Artist of the Month" by Canada's #1 CHR/Top 40 station, CHUM FM. Dru's first three singles "The One
", "Stay with Me (Always)" and "Seasons" received strong rotation nationally, with videos for all three songs appearing on all major media outlets.
In 2009, Dru topped the radio and video charts in both Canada & the UK as the featured artist on the hit single “Runnin” by renowned DJs Doman & Gooding. The single earned Dru yet another Juno Award
nomination in 2010 for “Dance Recording of The Year.” Dru has been identified by Billboard Magazine as "One of the most important emerging Canadian artists" and his success to date reinforces why he deserves such high praise.
Before becoming a solo artist, Dru was the front man for the R&B group In Essence
. The group released the critically acclaimed album The Master Plan
with hit songs such as "You'll Never Find," which was also featured on Funkmaster Flex's gold release
60 Minutes of Funk Vol. 4, and quickly became a club anthem in New York, Atlanta and Toronto.
Dru has gained international recognition as a force in the industry both as a performer and songwriter. He has written such hits for other foreign recording artists as multiplatinum Korean boy band “Tohoshinki” who covered his song “Stay With Me (Always).” Dru's 2010 single "Flash," performed by Japanese superstar Crystal Kay, was featured in a Japanese TV commercial for Canon’s latest camera. Maintaining his drive and humility, Dru is poised to introduce a new brand and style to the R&B world.
Dru's latest single "Gettin It In," from his forthcoming album On The Brink
, went to radio in August 2011 and is available on iTunes
worldwide. The video for "Gettin It In" will be serviced to all major TV and online outlets in mid-August.
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...
and dancer, Dru (Andrew Grange) is a Canadian solo artist who grew up in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and has passionately pursued his music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
career since 1993. The R&B/Soul Juno Award and MuchMusic Video Award (MMVA)winner’s major influences include Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo and Jay-Z.
Dru released his solo, debut album The One
The One
-Philosophy:The concept of "Τὸ Ἕν" in Hellenistic philosophy:*God*the Monad *the Absolute *The Good*The All*See also Henosis -Books, magazines and comics:...
in 2008, and the album was rated 3.5 out of 4 stars by the The Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
. He was also named Emerging Artist of the Month" by Canada's #1 CHR/Top 40 station, CHUM FM. Dru's first three singles "The One
The One
-Philosophy:The concept of "Τὸ Ἕν" in Hellenistic philosophy:*God*the Monad *the Absolute *The Good*The All*See also Henosis -Books, magazines and comics:...
", "Stay with Me (Always)" and "Seasons" received strong rotation nationally, with videos for all three songs appearing on all major media outlets.
In 2009, Dru topped the radio and video charts in both Canada & the UK as the featured artist on the hit single “Runnin” by renowned DJs Doman & Gooding. The single earned Dru yet another Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nomination in 2010 for “Dance Recording of The Year.” Dru has been identified by Billboard Magazine as "One of the most important emerging Canadian artists" and his success to date reinforces why he deserves such high praise.
Before becoming a solo artist, Dru was the front man for the R&B group In Essence
In Essence
In Essence is a 5-member Canadian R&B group that has had success both in Canada and USA. The groups members, Dru, Pops, Smooth, Que and Touch all met in Toronto, Ontario in 1993. On a trip to NYC, In Essence met Funkmaster Flex and his manager and in 2001 they were signed to Franchise...
. The group released the critically acclaimed album The Master Plan
The Master Plan
The Master Plan is the third studio album by Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors, released October 25, 1996 on EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Canada...
with hit songs such as "You'll Never Find," which was also featured on Funkmaster Flex's gold release
60 Minutes of Funk Vol. 4, and quickly became a club anthem in New York, Atlanta and Toronto.
Dru has gained international recognition as a force in the industry both as a performer and songwriter. He has written such hits for other foreign recording artists as multiplatinum Korean boy band “Tohoshinki” who covered his song “Stay With Me (Always).” Dru's 2010 single "Flash," performed by Japanese superstar Crystal Kay, was featured in a Japanese TV commercial for Canon’s latest camera. Maintaining his drive and humility, Dru is poised to introduce a new brand and style to the R&B world.
Dru's latest single "Gettin It In," from his forthcoming album On The Brink
On the Brink
"On the Brink" is the fifth episode of series seven of the British espionage television series Spooks, and the 60th episode overall. It was originally broadcast on digital channel BBC Three on 10 November 2008, and repeated on frontline channel BBC One on 17 November. The episode was written by...
, went to radio in August 2011 and is available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
worldwide. The video for "Gettin It In" will be serviced to all major TV and online outlets in mid-August.
External links
- http://www.druofficial.com
- Dru - "Gettin It In"
- http://www.myspace.com/dru2010z
- Dru - "The One"
- Dru - "Stay With Me (Always)"
- Dru - "Seasons"
- Doman & Gooding feat. Dru & Lincoln - "Runnin"