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Doug Levitt

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Doug Levitt
During production of "Today" music video
During production of "Today" music video
Background information
Born1972 (age 51–52)
Washington, D.C.
GenresFolk-Rock, Americana, Pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, writer, activist, photographer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Websitewww.douglevitt.com

Doug Levitt (born 1972) is an American singer-songwriter and writer known principally for The Greyhound Diaries, a project lasting more than a decade and traveling over 100,000 miles via Greyhound bus[1][2][3] and has resulted in songs, stories and images of fellow travelers, many struggling to get by.[4][5] The project, modeled on WPA-era projects that drew a fuller portrait of America, is ongoing, passing 100,000 miles at the end of 2015.[6] Levitt has been featured by CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and Reuters.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] The Greyhound Diaries has resulted in two records, a one-man show, published writings, photo exhibits and a web series.[15][16] 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, CNN and MSNBC.[17][18][19]

Personal life

Levitt is the youngest child of former Washington, D.C. Councilmember and mayoral candidate Carol Schwartz and husband David Schwartz. He attended the Washington, D.C. public schools, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School.[16] When Levitt was 16, his father committed suicide, an experience he has mentioned in interviews as instrumental in his path toward becoming an artist.[20]

Education

Levitt attended Cornell University, where he was a student of the late-astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan.[21] He later received a Fulbright Scholarship and earned his masters in International Relations at the London School of Economics.[22]

Career

While in London, Levitt switched careers, from foreign correspondent to singer-songwriter. After moving to Nashville, Levitt worked with noted Americana producer David Henry, known for producing records for Josh Rouse, Yo La Tengo and Guster.[23][24] 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 20,000 images and has performed the work at The Kennedy Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Woody Guthrie Center, the Southern Poverty Law Center, University of Southern California and homeless shelters across the country.[19][25][6][26][27] Produced by David Henry, the recordings include the contributions of Steve Bowman, founding member of the Counting Crows and Craig Wright, drummer for Steve Earle and Eric Church.[19][28][29][30]

References

  1. ^ Levitt, Doug. "The Greyhound Diaries". Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  2. ^ The Gloria Minott Show / MetroWatch, WPFW, Pacifica Radio November 24, 2010
  3. ^ Mary Huhn, The New York Post - Music Section, June 8, 2005
  4. ^ "Doug Levitt: Greyhound Diaries". NBC4 Washington. NBCUniversal, Inc. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  5. ^ Mikulan, Steven (11 November 2004). "Red, Blue and Blank". LA Weekly. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b Fisher, Rich (December 9, 2015). "Finding America, Repeatedly, on a Bus: Singer-Songwriter Doug Levitt Offers "The Greyhound Diaries"". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  7. ^ "CNN Newsroom Transcript". CNN. 4 November 2006. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  8. ^ Fox News, Fox & Friends, Aircheck, November 4, 2006
  9. ^ "Greyhound Diaries". Reuters Entertainment News. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Travelling author writes about struggling Americans". Dylan Ratigan Show. MSN. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Doug Levitt". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  12. ^ Jurgensen, John (22 December 2007). "Presidential Playlists". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  13. ^ The Greyhound Diaries on CNN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dikCJkDlbDs
  14. ^ The Greyhound Diaries at The Dylan Ratigan Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLwvc_Ug0pE
  15. ^ Levitt, Doug. "Doug Levitt". Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  16. ^ a b Godfrey, Sarah (5 November 2004). "If This Bus is Rockin'..." Washington City Paper. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  17. ^ Orzeck, Kurt (18 December 2007). "Mary J. Blige Tries To Put The Freeze On Lupe Fiasco's Cool, Chingy's Hate And More, In New Releases". MTV. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  18. ^ Malibu, “Doug Levitt, The Greyhound Diaries,” magazine March 8, 2008
  19. ^ a b c "Doug Levitt". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  20. ^ Austermuhle, Martin (February 28, 2012). "DCist Interview: The Greyhound Diaries' Doug Levitt". DCist. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  21. ^ "Doug Levitt: A Bus Ride with Private Simmons". KPCC. Southern California Public Radio. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  22. ^ Capitol File, “Doug Levitt: Power Musician,” April 8, 2008
  23. ^ Austermuhle, Martin (28 February 2012). "DCist Interview: The Greyhound Diaries' Doug Levitt". The DCist. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  24. ^ The Aquarian, John Fortunato: “Doug Levitt Leaves the Driving to Greyhound,” March 14, 2008
  25. ^ Light, Nanette (4 February 2008). "Songwriter gives voice to Greyhound bus riders". Scripps Howard Foundation Wire. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  26. ^ "The Greyhound Diaries A performance by Doug Levitt". University of Southern California. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  27. ^ Levitt, Doug (May 23, 2016). "Disparity Rides". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  28. ^ Levitt, Doug (8 November 2007). "Pall of the Pollocrats". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  29. ^ Congdon, Amanda (11 August 2009). "Greyhound Diaries - A Man, A Bus, A True Story". Sometimes Daily. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  30. ^ CMJ, “Doug Levitt Takes the Bus,” December 7, 2007
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