Raheem Devaughn

Raheem DeVaughn is an American singer and songwriter. He is the son of jazz cellist Abdul Wadud. His love for music solidified during his early teens, when he began to envision his career path. He grew up in Maryland with his mother, but it is during the summer visits to his father that he his first taste of the life of a working musician.

DeVaughn had an epiphany early in his college career at Coppin State University in Baltimore City, when he saw a group of street corner singers and began harmonizing with them. DeVaughn said his focus became music: "Before I knew what was going on, I was... cutting class to write lyrics and record".[1] His focus turned to becoming a professional singer.

He obtained relatively quick success in the DC Metro area, winning local awards and successfully releasing some independent work over the next few years. Jerry Vines, now the singer's longtime manager, met DeVaughn while managing the Baltimore-based quartet Dru Hill and asked him to write a song for the group. DeVaughn ultimately got the attention of veteran producers DJ Jazzy Jeff and Kenny Burns (known as former A&R for Roc-A-Fella Records) and with the help of Vines signed a recording contract with Jive Records in 2002.

His debut album, The Love Experience (2005), reached No. 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart, with the singles "You" and "Guess Who Loves You More". The album Love Behind the Melody (2008) followed; DeVaughn was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards for the single, "Woman".

DeVaughn has been compared to Dwele, Van Hunt, D'Angelo, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, butDeVaughn has described himself as a "R&B hippie neo-soul rock star."

While he enjoys the recent recognition he has received, DeVaughn invests in various ventures apart from music. He is currently working on a part-time business venture selling video phones, which he describes as, "the technology of the future."

Read more »