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BIOGRAPHY “Gregory Douglass possesses the voice of an angel - an angel in league with a devil, who conspires to seduce you with beauty." -Pamela Polston, Seven Days "Rufus Wainwright´s opulent musicality and Justin Timberlake´s accessible soulfulness . . . Welcome to your new favorite singer-songwriter." Gregory Douglass is an undeniable, pure talent. With 5 critically acclaimed, independent CDs under his belt, 25-year old Douglass delivers the songwriting skills of an "old soul" and "the voice of an angel" (Seven Days). His evocative amalgamation of contemporary folk, pop, and rock have been compared to Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, Patty Griffin & Rufus Wainwright. Douglass’ numerous accolades include being a finalist for both the 2005 International Songwriting Competition and the 2004 Independent Music Awards; he was the winner of the 2003 GrammyFest Awards in New York City, as well as the inaugural performer on the American Red Cross "Save A Life Tour” in 2003. Douglass actively appears at listening rooms, clubs, festivals, and on campuses throughout the U.S., and has co-billed with They Might Be Giants, India Arie, Jason Mraz, Melissa Ferrick and many others. Douglass’ debut music video for “I Wanted To Run,” produced by Haverstick Films, is regularly airing on LOGO TV’s "Click List" Top 10 Video Countdown. In November 2006, Douglass releases his sixth studio record Up & Away, immediately following the critical acclaim of his 2005 Stark release. Up & Away adorns a retrospective of Douglass’ life thus far, from the confessional chant-like opening track, “Light Don’t Shine” to the epic finale, “Up & Away,” declaring that “every new song seems an answer to prayers disregarded & undermined / oh what a life.” The sullen “Into The Sunset” summons it’s inspiration from the motion picture Brokeback Mountain, brooding over “a promise untouched by forces unknown to lovers.” Up & Away evokes a kinship in production to Douglass’ earlier releases, Teeter and Pseudo-Rotary but poses the secure sense of maturity that was introduced in his latest Stark release. “I wanted to really capitalize on my love for harmonies in this record as I had yet to do so; that’s the real signature for this one in my opinion,” says Douglass. Douglass was born and raised in rural Vermont, winning local talent shows in his early teens. He taught himself to play the piano & guitar and began writing his own songs during junior high. While attending Brewster Academy, a college-prep boarding high school in New Hampshire, Douglass composed and recorded the material for his first two albums. On graduation day, the schools’ Headmaster presented him with a music award publicly announcing that Gregory was the first student he would ever encourage NOT to go to college, advice that convinced him to immediately pursue music full-time. Today, Douglass has firmly established himself as a serious musical talent nation wide. With only six years of personal experience, Douglass has mastered the art of grassroots promotion with the help of his fan base. His last three recording efforts were financed almost entirely by the support of his fans pre-ordering records and contributing donations directly through his website. House Concerts hosted also by fans make up a large portion of his national touring. “As a full-time independent artist, it is important to come up with intimate, new ways to remind people your still there,” Douglass proclaims. QUOTES "Up & Away is a collection of lush, sophisticated compositions with underlying danger and foreboding that still seduce your heart, even when you’re aware of the darkness." "Combining soulful adult pop and ’70s-style soft rock, the Vermont singer-songwriter’s latest album shines..." "Whether you're a seasoned Gregory Douglass fan or a newcomer, you should reward yourself with this album." "Up & Away channels everyone from Stevie Wonder to Fiona Apple in a way that's terrifyingly mature for someone so young." "Up & Away finds the Vermont-based artist maturing in fascinating directions." "Forget Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Douglass is our new romantic." "Up & Away" features many songs that truly spark emotion and depth, that few artists can give us." "Gregory Douglass sings from his soul and leads with his heart. His voice is a gift... delivered in beautiful, compelling songs and knock-out performances." "Boy, this Gregory Douglass CD is quite good." "So talented, it hurts." "Soaring & soulful vocals." "The lyrical tracks of Up & Away lead you on a harmonious journey that boldly defines what great music is all about... His voice is irresistibly luring and provocative..." "Douglass has a supple voice that can wring emotion from whispers, induce trance-like calm, or soar to dramatic crescendos. Douglass does some intriguing things--quirky clipped rhythms on "Upside Down" and staccato cadences on "Dry." "This 24-year old guy from Vermont has released five albums so far, and financed it with a lot of passionate fans. He's very, very good, both as a "Douglass, who also plays guitar and piano, remains one of the most refreshing performers on the scene." "Meshing falsetto tremors that would’ve made Jeff Buckley jealous, with Maxwell’s R & B sensibility, Douglass creates songs with hooks and harmonies so perfect, it’s impossible not to be leveled by them. The moody subtleties of “Upside Down” alone, have kept this album in my stereo for weeks." "Stark is stunningly successful . . . Nearly every tune here is extraordinary; the meticulous attention to small production details makes Stark a sonic marvel. The collection is so perfectly realized, it's delicious to imagine where this uncommonly gifted 24-year-old will take his music next." "Gregory Douglass is a hidden treasure and I´m sure you will fall in love with his music the same minute you put the album on." "With its darker hues and unconventional instrumentation, Stark is a certainly a bold artistic statement. Douglass' vocals are phenomenal as usual, but now they're framed in quietly somber tunes that sound like Rufus Wainwright polishing off a bottle of red with Jeff Buckley. . . it's his best work yet." "A full-fledged talent with a new compact disk recording that should bring him national attention. "Stark," Douglass' fifth recording is just that, a haunting bare bones recording that focuses on his powerfully expressive vocal talent while also showing his strong writing abilities and considerable chops on piano and acoustic guitar." "Douglass is untouchable by contemporary singer-songwriters who come with major label backing. He is an enigma of music. His voice is unparalleled and his compositions are, despite the cliche, true works of art. "Stark" is a gem." ""Stark" serves up some of Douglass´ best stuff to date . . . compressed little vignettes that, while personal, speak to universal human themes, as well. Listening to Douglass´s piano and vocal work, weaving in and out of the multi-part harmony of the madrigals, one can´t but help feeling like one is in the presence of something magical." "Gregory Douglass isn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. Like other confessional songwriters (Jeff Buckley, Patty Griffin and Rufus Wainwright come to mind) Douglass delves deep into the emotionally messy place where giddy joy walks hand in hand with tender sorrow."
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