The older brother of Gavin DeGraw, Joey DeGraw began pursuing his own music career as a teenager. Having written over 50 songs before his high school graduation, the young DeGraw showed a flair for matching pop/rock melodies with rootsy arrangements, and his prospects grew as local bands began covering his material. Joey eventually entered the same New York City circuit as his brother, playing venues like the Bitter End and the Knitting Factory while producing his own work. Released in 2005, the debut effort Midnight Audio sold 40,000 copies with no label support, and Joey DeGraw honed his skills as a pianist and guitarist by joining his brother's backup band. The siblings soon founded their own independent label, National Underground Records, and kicked off its operations with the release of Joey's sophomore effort, Say Something Strong. ~ Andrew Leahey