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Revision as of 15:34, 24 September 2012
Doug Levitt | |
|---|---|
 During production of "Today" music video | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Douglas Levitt Schwartz |
| Born | December 30, 1971 Washington D.C. |
| Genres | Folk, Folk-Rock, Americana, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, author, activist, photographer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, piano |
Doug Levitt is an American singer-songwriter and author known principally for his seven-year project, The Greyhound Diaries. [1] [2] [3] In 2004, Levitt set out on his first six-week journey by Greyhound and began writing songs and stories about fellow travelers, many struggling to get by. [4] [5] The journey, modeled on WPA-era projects that drew a fuller portrait of America, is ongoing, passing 70,000 miles at the end of 2011. Levitt has been featured by CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, Billboard and Reuters.[6][7][8] [9][10][11] The Greyhound Diaries has resulted in a book, an EP recording, a one-man show, and a web series. [12] [13] Prior to embarking on his long journey, Levitt was a foreign correspondent. Based in London, he dispatched from Iran, Rwanda and Bosnia for, among others, ABC and NBC. [14] [15]
Life
Levitt is the youngest child of former Washington, D.C. City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Carol Schwartz and husband David Schwartz. He attended the Washington, D.C. public schools, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School. When Levitt was 16, he discovered his father dead from suicide, an experience he’s cited in interviews as instrumental in his path toward becoming an artist.
Education
Levitt attended Cornell University, where he was a student of the late-astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan. [16] He later received a Fulbright Scholarship and earned his masters in International Relations at the London School of Economics. [17]
Career
While in London, Levitt switched careers, from foreign correspondent to singer-songwriter. Moving to Nashville in 2001, he hooked up with noted Americana producer David Henry, known for producing records for Josh Rouse and Guster. [18] [19] The two began what would become a long-term collaboration on The Greyhound Diaries. Over the course of Levitt’s travels, he has captured more than 10,000 images and has performed the work at The Kennedy Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and homeless shelters across the country. [20] [21] Produced by David Henry, the record includes the contribution of Steve Bowman, founding member of the Counting Crows, on drums. [22] [23] [24] His long journey forms the basis of a feature biopic in the works. The film is said to center around his own struggle with his father’s suicide and the stories of people he’s met in transit.
Records
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Books
References
- ^ www.greyhounddiaries.com
- ^ The Gloria Minott Show / MetroWatch, WPFW, Pacifica Radio November 24, 2010
- ^ Mary Huhn, The New York Post - Music Section, June 8, 2005
- ^ NBC4 Washington, the Mid-day News at 11, February 27, 2012
- ^ LA Weekly, “Red Blue and Blank,” January 5, 2005
- ^ CNN, CNN Morning, Aircheck, November 4, 2006
- ^ Fox News, Fox & Friends, Aircheck, November 4, 2006
- ^ Reuters Television, September 8, 2006
- ^ MSNBC, The Dylan Ratigan Show, December 16, 2011
- ^ Billboard, April 19, 2008, p.34
- ^ The Wall Street Journal December 23, 2007, p. W3
- ^ www.douglevitt.com
- ^ Washington City Paper, “If This Bus is Rockin’,” November 5, 2004
- ^ MTV, “Greyhound Diaries: Eastbound Edition,” Blurb/Abstract. April, 4, 2008
- ^ Malibu, “Doug Levitt, The Greyhound Diaries,” magazine March 8, 2008
- ^ Southern California Public Radio, KPCC “A Bus Ride with Private Simmons,” May 20, 2008
- ^ Capitol File, “Doug Levitt: Power Musician,” April, 8, 2008
- ^ The DCist, The Doug Levitt Interview February 28, 2012
- ^ The Aquarian, John Fortunato: “Doug Levitt Leaves the Driving to Greyhound,” March 14, 2008
- ^ The Kennedy Center, Millenium Stage Broadcast February 29, 2012
- ^ Scripps Howard, “Songwriter Gives Voice to Greyhound Bus Riders,” February 8, 2008,
- ^ Sometimes Daily, Amanda Congdon Show, June 30, 2009
- ^ CMJ, “Doug Levitt Takes the Bus,” December 7, 2007
- ^ Doug Levitt: “Pall of the Pollocrats,” The Huffington Post, November 2007