Devon Gilfillian
{{short description|American soul singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Devon Gilfillian
| image = Devon GGG.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Morton, PA
| origin =
| genre = Soul, gospel blues
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = Fantasy Records, Capitol
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|devongilfillian.com}}
}}
Devon Gilfillian is an American soul singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=Justin Bieber's Flavorless Pivot to R&B, and 10 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/arts/music/playlist-justin-bieber-mac-miller.html |accessdate=1 June 2020 |work=New York Times |date=10 January 2020}}
Early life
Gilfillian is originally from Morton, Pennsylvania.{{cite news |last1=Warren |first1=Bruce |title=World Cafe Nashville: Devon Gilfillian, 'Here And Now' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/06/28/534611134/world-cafe-nashville-devon-gilfillian-here-and-now |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=NPR |date=28 June 2017}} He began playing guitar at age 14,{{cite news |title=Devon Gilfillian performs "Lonely" |url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs_this_morning/video/6B5Y1BF5BNBbW3IaI17_i2_cMgduvCIy/saturday-sessions-devon-gilfillian-performs-lonely-/ |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=CBS |date=7 March 2020}} and while still in high school played in a band called Black Sheep.{{cite news |last=Dyroff |first=Denny |date=24 Jan 2020 |title=On Stage: WCU grad Gilfillian celebrates first album with show at The Fillmore |url=https://kennetttimes.com/?p=33694 |work=The Kennett Times |location=Unionville, PA |access-date=5 Sep 2020}} He attended West Chester University,{{cite news |last=Hendrickson |first=Matt |date=Dec 2019 |title=Devon Gilfillian brings a sound all his own on his inspiring debut |url=https://gardenandgun.com/articles/dynamic-soul/ |work=Garden and Gun |location=Charlestown, SC |access-date=5 Sep 2020}} where he graduated with a degree in psychology, and also played in cover bands including Hot Spoon Gilly.{{cite news |last1=Millevoi |first1=Nick |title=Devon Gilfillian Finds Light at the End of His Tunnels |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/30279-devon-gilfillian-finds-light-at-the-end-of-his-tunnels-Devon-Gilfillian-Black-Hole-Rainbow-Afrobeat-Shawn-Everett |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=Premier Guitar |date=7 May 2020}} Growing up, his father, Nelson Gilfillian, was a singer and percussionist in a local band.
Career
After moving to Nashville in 2013, Gilfillian joined a local blues cover band. In 2016, he released his debut self-titled EP, of gospel-inspired blues-rock.
His major label debut album Black Hole Rainbow was released on January 10, 2020, on Capitol Records.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Stephen |title=The Austin 100: Devon Gilfillian |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/812174762/the-austin-100-devon-gilfillian |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=NPR |date=17 March 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Leimkuehler |first1=Matthew |title=Nashville's Devon Gilfillian is releasing the intergalactic soul album you need to hear |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2020/01/09/devon-gilfillian-black-hole-rainbow-soul-nashville-new-music-friday/2828216001/ |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=The Tennessean |date=9 January 2020}} It was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.{{cite web |title=Ivan Wayman |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ivan-wayman/287566 |website=grammy.com |access-date=4 January 2021}} The album features production from Shawn Everett, and co-writing from Jamie Lidell. Three of the album's singles reached the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart: "Unchained" peaked at number 7, "Get Out and Get It" peaked at number 12, and "The Good Life" peaked at number 5.{{cite magazine |title=Chart History: Devon Gilfillian |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/devon-gilfillian/chart-history |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=1 June 2020}}
On October 22, 2020, Gilfillian released a track-by-track cover of Marvin Gaye's 1971 album What's Going On{{cite news |last1=Douris |first1=Raina |title=Devon Gilfillian Re-Records Marvin Gaye's 1971 album 'What's Going On' |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/22/926833259/devon-gilfillian-re-records-marvin-gayes-1971-album-what-s-going-on |access-date=4 January 2021 |publisher=NPR |date=23 October 2020}} with 100% of the profits donated to Tennessee's Equity Alliance Fund.{{cite web | url=https://devon-gilfillian-merch-store.myshopify.com/collections/all/products/devon-gilfillian-whats-going-on-signed-vinyl | title=Devon Gilfillian - What's Going on - Signed Vinyl }}
On April 7, 2023, Gilfillian released his second full-length studio album Love You Anyway via Fantasy Records. Produced by Jeremy Lutito (Joy Oladokun, NEEDTOBREATHE), the album includes the single “All I Really Wanna Do” which peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart.{{cite news |last1=Todd |first1=Nate |title=Devon Gilfillian Is 'Right Kind Of Crazy' On New Single |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/devon-gilfillian-new-single-right-kind-of-crazy |accessdate=11 May 2023 |work=Jambase |date=28 March 2023}}{{cite magazine |title=Adult Alternative Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/triple-a/2023-05-27 |accessdate=23 May 2023 |magazine=Billboard |date=27 May 2023}}
Gilfillian was featured on a cover of Sam Cooke's "Having a Party" on the 2024 charity Christmas album A Philly Special Christmas Party by The Philly Specials.
Performances
Gilfillian performed at Newport Folk Festival and Montreal Jazz Fest,{{cite news |last1=Baltz |first1=Ryan |title=Devon Gilfillian Shines in "Unchained," Readies For 2020 Grace Potter Tour |url=https://americansongwriter.com/devon-gilfillian-shines-in-unchained-readies-for-2020-grace-potter-tour/ |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=American Songwriter |date=16 December 2019}} and at the 2018 NFL draft in Dallas.{{cite news |title=10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week: Corey Smith, Lilly Hiatt and More |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/10-best-country-and-americana-songs-of-the-week-corey-smith-lilly-hiatt-and-more-629030/devon-gilfillian-troublemaker-627690/ |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=4 May 2018}} On March 7, 2020, he made his national television debut on CBS This Morning, performing the track "The Good Life". He opened for Brothers Osborne on their 2019 tour,{{cite news |last1=Scholfield |first1=Anna |title=Devon Gilfillian Breathes New Life Into Soul and R&B |url=https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/devon-gilfillian-breathes-new-life-into-soul-and |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=Ones to Watch |date=11 April 2019}} and Grace Potter on her 2020 US tour. He has also opened for Mavis Staples, Gladys Knight, and Michael McDonald.{{cite news |last1=Schkloven |first1=Emma |title=Nashville Soulster Devon Gilfillian Talks Busting Musical Boxes Ahead of Houston Shows |url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/arts-and-culture/2020/02/nashville-soulster-devon-gilfillian-talks-busting-musical-boxes-ahead-of-houston-shows |accessdate=1 June 2020 |publisher=Houstonia |date=13 February 2020}} He performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 23, 2020,{{cite news |title=Devon Gilfillian - What's Going On |url=https://www.the360mag.com/devon-gilfillian-whats-going-on-2/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |publisher=360 Magazine |date=23 October 2020}} and performed "The Good Life" on Jimmy Kimmel Live in December 2020.{{cite news |title=DEVON GILFILLIAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE WITH NEW VERSION OF 'THE CHRISTMAS SONG (MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU)' |url=https://www.louderthanthemusic.com/document.php?id=10366 |access-date=4 January 2021 |publisher=Louder Than the Music |date=14 December 2020}}
In April 2023, he headlined his national Love You Anyway Tour.{{cite web | url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/06/devon-gilfillian-love-you-anyway-tour-dates/ | title=Devon Gilfillian Announces 'Love You Anyway Tour' Dates | date=6 June 2023 }}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Black Hole Rainbow
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| What's Going On
| |
| scope="row"| Love You Anyway
|
|
=EP=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Devon Gilfillian
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US AAA |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Here and Now"
| rowspan="1"| 2017 | — | Devon Gilfillian |
| scope="row"| "Troublemaker"
| rowspan="4"| 2018 | — | rowspan="5" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "High"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Truth" {{small|(feat. Tate Tucker)}} | — |
| scope="row"| "Winter Wonderland"
| — |
| scope="row"| "Feels Good"
| rowspan="3"| 2019 | — |
| scope="row"| "Get Out and Get It"
| 12 | rowspan="3"| Black Hole Rainbow |
| scope="row"| "Unchained"
| 7 |
| scope="row"| "The Good Life"
| rowspan="2" | 2020 | 5 |
| scope="row"|"Freedom" {{small|(with Illiterate Light)}} |8 | rowspan="1" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"All I Really Wanna Do"
| rowspan="2"| 2023 |6 | rowspan="2"| Love You Anyway |
| scope="row"|"Love You Anyway"
|25 |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilfillian, Devon}}
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:Capitol Records artists
Category:Fantasy Records artists
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:American soul singers
Category:American soul guitarists
Category:Singers from Nashville, Tennessee
Category:Musicians from Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Category:Singer-songwriters from Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century American male singers