Gavin DeGraw's Platinum Chariot

Gavin DeGraw's Platinum Chariot Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter's Debut Album Chariot Certified Platinum Hit Single 'I Don't Want To Be' #1 at Top 40 Radio DeGraw Continues on Sold Out National Headlining Tour NEW YORK, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- J Records recording artist Gavin DeGraw's debut album Chariot, released July 2003, has just been certified platinum by the RIAA. This announcement comes on the heels of his single "I Don't Want To Be" reaching the #1 spot on the Top 40 Radio Chart last week, along with DeGraw announcing new dates on his sold out headlining tour, with many dates selling out in less than 48 hours. The single impacted at Top 40 radio in August and has enjoyed an incredible run at AC and Top 40 formats. The platinum album status is a result of DeGraw's tireless touring and promotional schedule for over two years, maintaining and building connections with his loyal and growing fan base, and an unprecedented multi-media campaign, all culminating in a triumphant run to #1 with the single "I Don't Want To Be." Chariot debuted in the top ten on the Billboard's Heatseekers chart upon its release in July 2003, and one year later, J Records re-released the album bundled with a live acoustic disc entitled Chariot "Stripped". A fan driven project, Chariot "Stripped" offered Gavin the opportunity to re-record his album with the raw passion he had when he first penned these songs, as well as to showcase the growth and energy of these tracks garnered from performing them live over the last two years. The two-day recording session at Dumbo Studios in NYC also captured a special bonus cut of his heartfelt rendition of Sam Cooke's "Change Is Gonna Come." Chariot introduced the world to a vital singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist whose abundant talent and charisma were already well known in the New York club circuit. DeGraw has been selling out headlining dates for over a year now, with venue size increasing consistently, presenting his intimate, emotionally intense live performance to SRO audiences, as well as on major national television shows such as Late Show With David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, among others. His songs have been featured in many television shows and feature films most notably his hit single, "I Don't Want to Be" as the theme song for the WB hit, "One Tree Hill." In addition, DeGraw has made appearances on the season premieres of NBC's "American Dreams," Showtime's "Dead Like Me" and on the WB's "What I Like About You." DeGraw kicked off the first leg of his 2005 headlining tour with Michael Tolcher in Chicago on New Year's Eve at the House of Blues, and in March, is scheduled to perform on a college tour with support acts Tolcher and Jem. To follow is a list of upcoming dates: Headlining tour dates with support act Michael Tolcher: Wed/Jan-12 Raleigh, NC Disco Rodeo Fri/Jan-14 Boston, MA Celtics/Fleet Center - concert begins post game Sat/Jan-15 Allentown, PA Crocodile Cafe Sun/Jan-16 Oxford, OH Brick St. Bar Tue/Jan-18 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's Wed/Jan-19 Athens, OH Ohio University Thur/Jan-20 Chattanooga WKXJ Radio Show Fri/Jan-21 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University Fri/Feb-04 Austin, TX Grand Slam Jam Sat/Feb-05 Dallas, TX Lakewood Theatre Tue/Feb-08 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theatre Wed/Feb-09 Scottsdale, AZ Venue of Scottsdale Thu/Feb-10 Ventura, CA Ventura Theater Fri/Feb-11 Claremont, CA Claremont University Sun/Feb-13 San Diego, CA Canes Bar & Grill Thu/Feb-17 Storrs, CT University of Connecticut Fri/Feb-18 Schenectady, NY Union College Sat/Feb-19 Keene, NH Keene State College Sun/Feb-20 Washington, DC Catholic U. of America/closed to the public Tue/Feb-22 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theatre March college tour dates with Michael Tolcher and Jem to be announced soon... Source: J Records CONTACT: Sarah Weinstein Dennison of J Records publicity, +1-646-840- 5672, sarah.weinstein@sonybmg.com ------- Profile: International Entertainment