« Updates and Free Music | Main | Back Down Memory Lane »
Artist Spotlight: Raheem Devaughn
Little did I know when I composed my favorite albums of 2004 that one of my favorite songs, Heaven Help Us (by Urban Ave. 31) from my #3 album, Soul Lounge 1, would be connected to another song that went immediately to my heavy rotation playlist, Guess Who Loves You More. Raheem Devaughn is the common denominator. There is something so soulful and nostalgic in his voice, I couldn't resist. It wasn't long after that I began one of my obsessive journey's to discover anything musically related to him.
The self-described "r&b rock star", who was born in New Jersey and grew up in the DC and Baltimore area, was influenced by his mother's record collection and his father, jazz musician Abdul Wadud. He has made a name for himself recently as one half of the Washington DC based group CrossRhodes and as a member of Urban Ave 31.
I hear traces of Marvin Gaye and Prince in the rawness of his voice but I can certainly envision him finding his own path to legendary status. He recently signed with Jive Records. His single, Guess Who Loves You More, will be available in stores on Feb. 15 (it's available now on iTunes) with his debut album following this fall. You can read more about Raheem on his website or order some of his earlier work from Urban Ave 31.
***I must thank everybody's favorite DJ, EJ, for dedicating his OSW radio.blog to me. I'm truly honored. I have arrived, LOL. Check out his Sweetness Mix and tell me that isn't the sweetest thing ever. Thank you EJ, you're the best!