View source for David Rawlings

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{for|the British musician|Quartz (duo)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = David Rawlings
| image           = DavidRawlings.jpg
| caption         = David Rawlings performing in 2014
| birth_name      =
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1969|12|30}}
| birth_place     = [[North Smithfield, Rhode Island]], U.S.
| genre           =
| occupation      = {{hlist|Musician|singer|record producer}}
| instrument      = Vocals, guitar
| years_active    =
| label           =
| associated_acts = [[Gillian Welch]], [[Willie Watson (musician)|Willie Watson]], [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]
| website         = {{URL|www.daverawlingsmachine.com}}
}}

'''David Todd Rawlings''' (born December 30, 1969) is an American guitarist, singer, and record producer. He is known for his musical partnership with singer and songwriter [[Gillian Welch]].<ref name="NPR.org">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/11/17/502012777/first-listen-gillian-welch-boots-no-1-the-official-revival-bootleg|title=Review: Gillian Welch, 'Boots No. 1 The Official Revival Bootleg'|work=NPR.org|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref> He and Welch were nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] at the [[91st Academy Awards]] for "[[When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings]]" from ''[[The Ballad of Buster Scruggs]]''. In 2020, Welch and Rawlings released ''[[All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone)]]'', which won the 2021 [[Grammy Award for Best Folk Album]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2024, Welch and Rawlings released [[Woodland (album)|''Woodland'']], which won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album, currently making Welch and Rawlings the only duo to win the award more than once.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tall |first=Christy |title=UC Santa Cruz alumna Gillian Welch wins Grammy for Best Folk Album |url=https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/02/gillian-welch.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=UC Santa Cruz News |date=February 5, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Life and career ==
Rawlings attended the [[Berklee College of Music]] and studied with Lauren Passarelli.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dave Rawlings takes the lead|newspaper=Boston.com|date=June 2010|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/06/01/dave_rawlings_takes_the_lead/|access-date=September 11, 2017|last1=Reed|first1=James}}</ref> He produced albums by Gillian Welch, Willie Watson, [[Dawes (band)|Dawes]], and [[Old Crow Medicine Show]]. In the mid-2010s he led a band called the Dave Rawlings Machine, composed of Rawlings, Gillian Welch, [[Willie Watson (musician)|Willie Watson]], [[Paul Kowert]], and [[Brittany Haas]]. [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] has been known to play mandolin with the band occasionally.<ref name="auto">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-best-country-albums-of-2015-20151208/dave-rawlings-machine-nashville-obsolete-20151207|title=40 Best Country Albums of 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 8, 2015|access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> Rawlings contributed to the albums ''[[Cassadaga (album)|Cassadaga]]'' by [[Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes]], ''[[Spooked (album)|Spooked]]'' by [[Robyn Hitchcock]], and ''[[Heartbreaker (Ryan Adams album)|Heartbreaker]]'' by [[Ryan Adams]], with whom he wrote two songs, "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)" and "Touch, Feel and Lose".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2009/11/dave-rawlings-machine-a-friend-of-friend/|title=DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE - A Friend Of A Friend American Songwriter|date=November 17, 2009|work=American Songwriter|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> His vocal style has often been compared to that of Bob Dylan.<ref name="pastemagazine.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/11/dave-rawlings-machine-a-friend-of-a-friend.html|title=Dave Rawlings Machine: A Friend of a Friend|work=pastemagazine.com|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/13/dave-rawlings-machine-nashville-obsolete-review|title=Dave Rawlings Machine: Nashville Obsolete CD review – laconic but biting|last=Spencer|first=Neil|date=September 13, 2015|work=The Observer|access-date=October 5, 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

== Recordings ==
=== ''A Friend of a Friend'' (2009) ===
The Dave Rawlings Machine album ''A Friend of a Friend'' was released on November 17, 2009. Rawlings recorded the album in [[Nashville]], and produced it himself. Gillian Welch is credited as a co-writer on five of the album's songs as well playing in the band with members of [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]], Old Crow Medicine Show, and Bright Eyes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dave Rawlings Machine: A Friend of a Friend|newspaper=The Observer |date=November 13, 2009|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/01/dave-rawlings-machine-review|access-date=September 12, 2017 |last1=Hogan |first1=Phil }}</ref><ref name="billboard_9_2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267243/dave-rawlings-steps-into-spotlight-with-a-friend-of-a-friend|title= Dave Rawlings Steps Into Spotlight With 'A Friend Of A Friend'|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=September 29, 2009|work=Billboard.com|access-date=September 30, 2009}}</ref> The album features a medley of a [[Neil Young]] and [[Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes]] song, as well as songs Rawlings co-wrote with Ryan Adams and Old Crow Medicine Show.<ref name="pastemagazine.com"/> [[Morgan Nagler]] (of the band Whispertown) is credited with co-writing the song "Sweet Tooth".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=137823880|title=Gillian Welch & David Rawlings: The Fresh Air Interview |website=Npr.org|date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

=== ''Nashville Obsolete'' (2015) ===
In 2015 Dave Rawlings Machine released a second album, ''Nashville Obsolete''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dave Rawlings Machine: Nashville Obsolete CD review|newspaper=The Observer |date=September 13, 2015|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/13/dave-rawlings-machine-nashville-obsolete-review|access-date=September 12, 2017 |last1=Spencer |first1=Neil }}</ref> The album was named to Rolling Stone's list of the top 40 country albums of 2016.<ref name="auto"/> In late 2016 Acony issued ''Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg'', a deluxe version of the 1996 Welch album considered a "modern Americana classic" and the first collaboration for the duo.<ref name="NPR.org"/>

=== ''Poor David's Almanack'' (2017) ===
''Poor David's Almanack'', released on August 11, 2017, via [[Acony Records]], is the eighth collaborative LP for Rawlings and Welch and the first under the name David Rawlings.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/david-rawlings-preps-new-album-poor-davids-almanack-w489845|title=David Rawlings Readies New Album, 'Poor David's Almanack'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/06/david-rawlings-poor-davids-almanack-review-gillian-welch-guitar-man|title=David Rawlings: Poor David's Almanack review – his most Welch-like release by far|date=August 6, 2017|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In addition to Welch and Watson, the backup band includes Brittany Haas, Paul Kowert, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, and [[Taylor Goldsmith|Taylor]] and Griffin Goldsmith of [[Dawes (band)|Dawes]]. The album was recorded with Ken Scott and Matt Andrews at the Rawlings/Welch duo's [[Woodland Sound Studios]] in Nashville.<ref name=McKenna>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/premieres/hear-david-rawlings-haunting-new-song-cumberland-gap-w494447|title=Hear David Rawlings' Haunting New Song 'Cumberland Gap'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> The album features an original woodcut piece by Gillian Welch on the cover and was notably the first vinyl release on Welch and Rawlings' Acony record label.<ref>{{cite news|title=David Rawlings: Poor David's Almanack review|newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 6, 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/aug/06/david-rawlings-poor-davids-almanack-review-gillian-welch-guitar-man|access-date=September 11, 2017 |last1=Empire |first1=Kitty }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Why Vinyl's Boom Is Over|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=July 22, 2017|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-vinyls-boom-is-over-1500721202|access-date=September 12, 2017|last1=Shah|first1=Neil}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Start to finish, the album is a testament both to his immeasurable talent and to his essential place in the roots and Americana music scene. It's also a chance for a guy otherwise happy to play sideman or stand behind the boards to step out just a touch further into a well-deserved spotlight.<ref name=McKenna />|sign=Brittney McKenna|source=Rolling Stone}}

"Cumberland Gap" was used as the opening song to [[Guy Ritchie]]'s 2019 film, [[The Gentlemen (2019 film)|''The Gentlemen'']]. It was nominated for [[Best American Roots Song]] at the [[2018 Grammy Awards]].

=== ''All the Good Times (Are Past and Gone)'' (2020) ===
In July 2020, Rawlings and Welch announced ''[[All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone)]]'', an album of covers and traditional songs recorded at their home during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=All The Good Times {{!}} Gillian Welch|work=Gillian Welch |date=July 10, 2020 |url=https://gillianwelch.com/all-the-good-times/|access-date=December 29, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> ''All the Good Times'' is notably the first album in their decades-long history of collaboration to be released jointly in both of their names.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 19, 2021|title=Gillian Welch and David Rawlings: All the Good Times review – lockdown covers of Dylan and Prine|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/feb/19/gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings-all-the-good-times-review-lockdown-covers-of-dylan-and-prine|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The album won the [[63rd Annual Grammy Awards|2021 Grammy Award]] for [[Best Folk Album]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Hussey|first=Allison|date=March 14, 2021|title=Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Win Best Folk Album at 2021 Grammys|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings-win-best-folk-album-at-2021-grammys/|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Instrument ==
Rawlings achieves his signature guitar sound [[flatpicking]] a small archtop guitar. The 1935 [[Epiphone]] Olympic that has been his primary instrument was a mid-priced guitar for its time, with a carved arched solid sprucewood top, carved arched solid mahogany back and mahogany sides.<ref name="1934 Epiphone sales catalog">1934 Epiphone sales catalog</ref> It sold for about $35 in 1935<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acguitar.com/issues/ag76/gear76.html |title=Acguitar.com |website=Acguitar.com |access-date=December 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102050026/http://www.acguitar.com/issues/ag76/gear76.html |archive-date=January 2, 2010 }}</ref> ({{Inflation|US|35|1935|fmt=eq|r=-1}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}). The guitar's lower bout measures 13 5/8&nbsp;inches wide, and it has three piece f-holes.<ref name="1934 Epiphone sales catalog" />

Rawlings "scavenged" the guitar from a friend's garage and is now hardly seen playing anything else. As he states, "I just picked it up. It was filthy, and it didn't have strings. You could just see the shape of it under the sawdust." Rawlings had a new one piece bridge made for it and brought it to a recording session for Welch's first record. "As soon as I heard it through the microphone and through the speakers I was like, 'I love this guitar'." he says.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-dave-rawlings-show-off-his-scavenged-vintage-guitar-in-new-series-20151014|title=See Dave Rawlings Talk Vintage Guitars in New Series|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 28, 2017}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Dave Rawlings Machine===
* ''A Friend of a Friend'' (Acony, 2009)
* ''[[Nashville Obsolete]]'' (Acony, 2015)

===David Rawlings===
* ''Poor David's Almanack'' (Acony, 2017)

===Gillian Welch & David Rawlings===
* ''[[All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone)]]'' (Acony, 2020)
* ''[[Woodland (album)|Woodland]]'' (Acony, 2024)

===Gillian Welch===
* ''[[Revival (Gillian Welch album)|Revival]]'' (Almo Sounds, 1996)
* ''[[Hell Among the Yearlings]]'' (Acony, 1998)
* ''[[Time (The Revelator)]]'' (Acony, 2001) 
* ''[[Soul Journey]]'' (Acony, 2003) 
* ''[[The Harrow & The Harvest]]'' (Acony, 2011)
* ''Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg '' (Acony, 2016)
*''Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs'' (Acony, 2020)

===As guest===
'''With Ryan Adams'''
* ''[[Heartbreaker (Ryan Adams album)|Heartbreaker]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Demolition (Ryan Adams album)|Demolition]]'' (2002)

'''With Bright Eyes'''
* ''[[Four Winds (EP)|Four Winds]]'' (Saddle Creek, 2007)
* ''[[Cassadaga (album)|Cassadaga]]'' (Saddle Creek, 2007)

'''With others'''
* [[Ani DiFranco]], ''[[Swing Set]]'' (2000)
* [[Old Crow Medicine Show]], ''[[Old Crow Medicine Show (album)|Old Crow Medicine Show]]'' (2004)
* [[Robyn Hitchcock]], ''[[Spooked (album)|Spooked]]'' (2004)
* [[Whispertown2000|The Whispertown 2000]], ''Swim'' (Acony, 2008)
* [[Sara Watkins]], ''[[Sara Watkins (album)|Sara Watkins]]'' ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]], 2009)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/g-s1-71793/gillian-welch-david-rawlings-tiny-desk-concert Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at July 2, 2025 NPR Tiny Desk Concert], 22 min, 4 tracks, 2 musicians, live video 
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p174732|label=David Rawlings}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{MusicBrainz}}
* David Rawlings on [https://web.archive.org/web/20100704024901/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2010/06/dave-rawlings-steps-into-the-spotlight.html PBS NewsHour]

{{Gillian Welch}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawlings, David}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American acoustic guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American bluegrass guitarists]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American country guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Americana Music Honors & Awards winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Rhode Island]]
[[Category:People from North Smithfield, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Singers from Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Record producers from Rhode Island]]