DWTS 14: Gavin DeGraw

Each season, DWTS needs to have a singer and this season Gavin DeGraw is a musician, singer and songwriter. You might think you don’t know him, but if you watched “One Tree Hill” or at least seen the commercials (or parodies) then you’ve heard his “I Don’t Want to Be.”

Full name: Gavin Shane DeGraw

Partner: Karina Smirnoff

Official website

DeGraw is the song of a detox specialist (mother) and a prison guard (father). His father is Irish American while his mother is Russian Jewish. His older brother, Joey suggested that he write his own songs. Joey is also a musician. They have a sister named Neeka.  Gavin and Joey moved to New York City in 1998 and were there in 2001 when the World Trade Center collapsed.

In 2003, Gavin DeGraw’s song “I Don’t Want to Be” was chosen as the theme for “One Tree Hill.” I’ve never watched the show and I’ve heard the song. The song was used on “American Idol.” In 2004, his song “Follow Through” was used on the TV series “Scrubs” (“My Self-Examination”) and “One Tree Hill” also used the song. “Dead Like Me” used his song “Chariot” and DeGraw appeared performing the song. The song also showed up on “Boston Legal” in 2006.

DeGraw plays piano and guitar. His albums include:

• Chariot (2003)
• Gavin DeGraw (2008)
• Free (2009)
• Sweeter (2011)

The brothers opened up a rock Americana music bar in the Lower East Side of Manhattan called The National Underground in 2007. Last year they opened another venue in Nashville, TN.

Birthday: 4 February 1977

• Age: 35
• Aquarius

Hometown: South Fallsburg, New York

The DWTS question is: Can he dance?

Gavin Degraw & Karina Smirnoff

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• 800-868-3404
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• Text-in code: 3404

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