Singer-Songwriter David Ryan Harris Joins Spirit Music As VP, A&R
David Ryan Harris. Photo: Gary Askey
Singer-songwriter and musician David Ryan Harris has joined Spirit Music as VP, A&R and as a songwriter and JV partner with his company Peace Pourage, Inc.
In aligning with Spirit Music in his new position and creative collaboration, Harris brings nearly four decades of experience to mentor and nurture future generations of fellow creatives. Harris first rose to fame as frontman for the seminal Atlanta rock band, Follow For Now in the late 1980s, and later struck out on his own as a solo act while working with artists across genres. He’s written and produced for Hootie & The Blowfish, Christina Perri, Zayn from One Direction, Natasha Bedingfield, and others.
Harris recently won an APRA Billions Milestone for his work on Nelly’s 2010 single “Just a Dream,” which recently surpassed one billion streams. He was also a co-writer on the Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco collaboration “Battle Scars” in 2012, which is certified Platinum, and nine-times Platinum in Australia. Other in studio and onstage collaborations include Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews and Santana. In addition to releasing his own music, Harris has been singing and playing guitar in John Mayer’s band since 2004.
“I am thrilled to welcome David Ryan Harris to the Spirit Music team,” declares Spirit Music CEO Frank Rogers. “Beyond being a fan and friend of David’s, I am excited at the wealth of knowledge and passion for music that he is bringing to Spirit. He will be a great asset and champion for our writers, artists and staff.”
“I look forward to using my years of experience writing, touring, playing, and making authentic connections in the business and the world at large to bring value and new perspectives to the amazing team at Spirit,” shares Harris.
Harris will amplify his work at Spirit in the coming years with a focus on mentoring other artists to further the mission of the boutique music publisher, whose global reach and extensive repertoire includes more than 100,000 songs spanning nearly a century and encompassing all genres.
