Derryck Gleaton (born 30 August 1988), better known as DSharp, is an American violinist, DJ, singer and producer based in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. Known for his trademark colored

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

s, he writes his own music and performs cover versions of popular songs, focusing on

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

electronic dance music Electronic dance music (EDM), also referred to as dance music or club music, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres originally made for nightclubs, raves, and List of electronic dance music festivals, festivals. It is generally ...

and classical pieces. DSharp has played in clubs around the world, including in Amsterdam, Dubai, London, the Philippines and Sweden, where he has performed with

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...

, American DJ

Kaskade Ryan Gary Raddon (born February 25, 1971), better known by his stage name Kaskade, is an American DJ, music producer and remixer. ''DJ Times'' voted Kaskade as "America's Best DJ" in 2011 and 2013. ''DJ Magazine, DJ Mag'' named Kaskade fifty-fi ...

, Dutch DJs

Afrojack Nick Leonardus van de Wall (; born 9 September 1987), known professionally as Afrojack (stylized in all caps), is a Dutch DJ, record producer and remixer. In 2007, he founded the record label Wall Recordings; his debut album ''Forget the World ( ...

, Chuckie,

Nicky Romero Nick Rotteveel (; born 6 January 1989), professionally known as Nicky Romero or Monocule, is a Dutch DJ, record producer and remixer from Amerongen, Utrecht Province. He has worked with, and received support from DJs, such as Tiësto, Fedde l ...

and R3hab, and Swedish DJ

Sebastian Ingrosso Sebastian Carmine Ingrosso (born 20 April 1983) is a Swedish DJ and record producer. He is a member of Swedish House Mafia, together with Axwell and Steve Angello. Career 1999–2007: Career beginnings Sebastian Ingrosso entered the music indu ...

. He has played with The Dave Matthews Tribute Band, and in 2012 played on four tracks of rapper

Rick Ross William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper. An influential figure in modern Hip-hop, hip hop music, Rick Ross has become known for his "Wiktionary:booming, booming" vocal perfor ...

's album ''

God Forgives, I Don't ''God Forgives, I Don't'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on July 30, 2012, by Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album was produced by several record producers, includi ...

'', produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. In 2009 DSharp was commissioned by the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

to write a piece for the unveiling of an African-American art collection donated to the university by Paul R. Jones.Wayne Grayson
"UA violinist plays a mix of hip-hop, R&B and rock, and his popularity is rising"
''Tuscaloosa News'', 21 June 2009. In 2015 he filmed a music video in New Zealand with

grand prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural ''Grands Prix'') most commonly refers to: * Grand Prix motor racing, a form of motorsport competition ** List of Formula One Grands Prix, an auto-racing championship *** Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious ...

horse rider Caroline Roffman. __TOC__

Background

Born to Don and Mae Gleaton in South Carolina, DSharp attended school in

Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee ...

."About DSharp"
, ''artistdata''. He began playing in

sixth grade Sixth grade (also 6th grade or grade 6) is the sixth year of formal or compulsory education. Students in sixth grade are usually 11-12 years old. It is commonly the first or second grade of middle school or the last grade of elementary school, an ...

when, unable to find a

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

for an elective course, he opted for a borrowed

viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...

instead, and won a place with the Greater Columbus Youth String Orchestra. The family moved to

Anniston, Alabama Anniston is a city and the county seat of Calhoun County, Alabama, Calhoun County in Alabama, United States, and is one of two urban centers/principal cities of and included in the Anniston–Oxford metropolitan area, Anniston–Oxford Metropo ...

, where he was privately tutored by Bill Brazelton, who had been playing viola and violin for 65 years. 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

on a music scholarship, where he became an ambassador for the university's Creative Campus initiative."Trilogy Saturday with DJ DSharp!"
''TimeOut'', undated. In 2010 he transferred to

Georgia State University Georgia State University (Georgia State, State, or GSU) is a Public university, public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is al ...

in Atlanta.Erin Williams
"Anniston’s 'D-Sharp' is the Jimi Hendrix of the violin"
''The Anniston Star'', 26 August 2012.

References

External links

Official website

DSharp on YouTube

DSharp on Facebook

DSharp on beatport DJs

"Viral musician turning heads with an unlikely instrument"
Aol. Entertainment, 30 April 2016. * Muhammad, Latifah
"Meet D-Sharp: Official DJ For The Golden State Warriors"
''Vibe'', 6 June 2016. * Ullman, Whitney
"Interview with DSharp August
(video), Access AC Live, 8 February 2014. {{DEFAULTSORT:DSharp 1988 births African-American DJs Living people 21st-century American male musicians Hip-hop violinists American male classical violinists 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century American classical violinists

Background

See also

References

External links