David Ryan Harris
David Ryan Harris (born c. 1968) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Harris moved to Atlanta at a young age. Harris has had a varied career as a musician.
David Ryan Harris
1967 or 1968 (age 55–56)[1]
Influences[edit]
Harris has cited artists including Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and Prince as influences.[2] His solo music ranges in genre from folk to rhythm and blues.
Career[edit]
Follow for Now[edit]
Harris has been performing on stage since the 1980s when he served as frontman for the Atlanta rock group Follow for Now. Harris' eclectic taste in music is apparent in the band's music, which shows influences ranging from Motown to thrash metal. Follow for Now was given a record deal through Chrysalis Records and after working with producer Brendan O'Brien, released their self-titled album in 1991. The band toured with such acts as Fishbone, HR of Bad Brains, Pearl Jam, Faith No More and 24–7 Spyz. The band members parted ways in 1994.
Solo career[edit]
After a short period out of the limelight, Harris began working as a producer and featured guitarist with Dionne Farris, a former vocalist from hip-hop group Arrested Development. Harris’ guitar work can be heard throughout Farris’ 1995 album Wild Seed, Wild Flower.
Harris worked with Farris until he launched his solo career in 1997. He reunited with Brendan O'Brien and was signed to Columbia Records, where the two would produce Harris’ solo debut. While the album was praised by critics, Harris’ range of musical influences made the album difficult to sell and he soon moved on to his next project.
Brand New Immortals[edit]
Still working with O’Brien, Harris united with drummer Kenny Creswell and former bassist of the Black Crowes Johnny Colt, Harris created the trio Brand New Immortals. The group released a successful 6 track EP and were signed to Elektra Records by Lars Ulrich of Metallica. In 2001, the trio produced an album entitled Tragic Show,[3] which the band felt that Elektra did not properly promote. Early the next year the band broke up and Harris returned to the pursuit of success as a solo artist.
Personal life[edit]
Harris is married and has five sons: Miles, Life, River, Truman and Hendrix. Harris also has a daughter with singer Dionne Farris named Tate Farris, a rapper who performs as Baby Tate.[18]
In September of 2023, Harris and two of his children, who are biracial, were stopped by American Airlines officials while deplaning after a trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles on suspicion he was a child trafficker. After being allowed to resume their trip, but having initially received no apology, he posted about the experience to instagram and received an apology, which he accepted, telling People he had told American to let the cabin attendant know he "wholeheartedly accept[s] and appreciate[s] her apology”.[1][5] He posted to Instagram, "I’ve never begrudged the red flag, I’ve always begrudged the apparent lack of diligence on the part of the flight attendant." He told the New York Times he had begun filing a petition to require minors travel with identification to remove the burden of assessing situations possibly involving child trafficking from cabin attendants.[1][5] He told People, “The line of defense [against child trafficking] should not be on the plane”.[5]