DSharp

Derryck Gleaton (born 30 August 1988), better known as DSharp, is an American violinist, DJ, singer and producer based in Los Angeles, California.[1] Known for his trademark colored violins, he writes his own music and performs cover versions of popular songs, focusing on hip hop, electronic dance music and classical pieces.[2]

For other uses, see D-sharp (disambiguation).
DSharp
Background information
Birth nameDerryck Gleaton
Born (1988-08-30) 30 August 1988
South Carolina
GenresClassical, electronic dance music, hip hop
Occupation(s)DJ, violinist, producer, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsViola, violin
Years activec. 1999–present
Websitewhoisdsharp.com
IAmDSharp, YouTube.

DSharp has played in clubs around the world, including in Amsterdam, Dubai, London, the Philippines and Sweden, where he has performed with Smokey Robinson, American DJ Kaskade, Dutch DJs Afrojack, Chuckie, Nicky Romero and R3hab, and Swedish DJ Sebastian Ingrosso.[2][3] He has played with The Dave Matthews Tribute Band, and in 2012 played on four tracks of rapper Rick Ross's album God Forgives, I Don't, produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.[4]

In 2009 DSharp was commissioned by the University of Alabama to write a piece for the unveiling of an African-American art collection donated to the university by Paul R. Jones.[2] In 2015 he filmed a music video in New Zealand with grand prix horse rider Caroline Roffman.[5][6]

Background

Born to Don and Mae Gleaton in South Carolina, DSharp attended school in Columbus, Georgia.[2][7] He began playing in sixth grade when, unable to find a trumpet for an elective course, he opted for a borrowed viola instead, and won a place with the Greater Columbus Youth String Orchestra. The family moved to Anniston, Alabama, where he was privately tutored by Bill Brazelton, who had been playing viola and violin for 65 years.[2]

DSharp played with the Jacksonville State Community Orchestra and Etowah Youth Orchestra, traveling to Memphis, St. Louis and London with the latter. After graduating from high school in 2006, he attended the University of Alabama on a music scholarship, where he became an ambassador for the university's Creative Campus initiative.[2][3] In 2010 he transferred to Georgia State University in Atlanta.[4]

See also
Part of a series on
Fiddle and Violin
Violin acoustics
Fiddlers
History of the violin
Luthiers
Musical styles
Violin technique
Violin construction
Violin family
Violinists

References
  1. DSharp, Discogs.
  2. Wayne Grayson, "UA violinist plays a mix of hip-hop, R&B and rock, and his popularity is rising", Tuscaloosa News, 21 June 2009.
  3. "Trilogy Saturday with DJ DSharp!", TimeOut, undated.
  4. Erin Williams, "Anniston’s 'D-Sharp' is the Jimi Hendrix of the violin", The Anniston Star, 26 August 2012.
  5. "Wellington horses star in music video", SunSentinel, 6 May 2015.
  6. "Dressage gets its funk on for DSharp music video", Horsetalk (New Zealand), 10 April 2015.
  7. "About DSharp" Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, artistdata.
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