Kevin Ross (musician) facts for kids

Kevin Ross, born on December 8, 1987, is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He is known for his R&B and soul music. Kevin used to be signed with Motown Records. He released his first album, The Awakening, in 2017. Kevin has also written songs for many famous artists. These include Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, and Toni Braxton. He became popular in 2014. This was after his song "This Is My Wish" was part of a Glade holiday ad.

Early Life and Music

Kevin Ross grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His family was full of musicians. This meant music was always around him. His father's family especially loved to sing and play instruments. Kevin went to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. This is a special high school for performing arts. During his second year, he sang Stevie Wonder songs. This was for a Motown tribute show. That's when he decided to become a musician. After high school, Kevin got a scholarship. He went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, he learned about writing and producing modern music.

Kevin Ross's Music Career

While at Berklee College, Kevin appeared on BET's 106 and Park. He was part of their Wild Out Wednesday competition. Kevin won the competition. His win caught the eye of music producer Troy Taylor. After graduating, Kevin moved to Atlanta. He started his songwriting career there. He wrote songs for artists like Trey Songz and Jamie Foxx. Soon after, Kevin signed a record deal with Motown Records.

First Releases and Success (2014–2017)

Kevin's first solo music on Motown was Dialogue in the Grey. This was an EP, which is a shorter album. It came out in 2014 and had four songs. Famous artists like Ne-Yo and T.I. were featured on it. This EP helped Kevin go on national tours. He opened for Maxwell and Ne-Yo. In the same year, Kevin became the face of Glade's "This Is My Wish" holiday campaign. AOL even named him their "Best New Artist" for 2014.

In 2015, Kevin announced his first full album, The Awakening. It was finally released in 2017. While waiting, Kevin made popular 1990s R&B mash-up videos. These videos became very popular online. They helped him reach many new fans. In 2016, he released "Long Song Away." This song became number one on Billboard's Adult R&B Song chart. It was a big success for a new Motown artist. Kevin's album, The Awakening, came out on March 24, 2017. It featured artists like BJ the Chicago Kid and Lecrae. It also had production from Babyface. Later in 2017, Kevin released his third EP, Drive.

Starting His Own Label (2018–Present)

After Drive, Kevin took a short break from music. In January 2019, he announced something big. He was leaving Motown to start his own label. He named it Art Society Music Group. Kevin explained that he wanted more freedom. He wanted to make his own decisions about his music. He felt that having too many people involved could make things difficult.

With his new label, Kevin announced new music. He planned to release a single called Thing Called Love. He also planned a new album, Audacity. The album's release was delayed. But in December 2019, Kevin announced Audacity, Vol. 1. This 7-song EP was released on January 31, 2020.

Kevin Ross's Music Albums

Studio Albums

EPs (Extended Plays)

Singles

Music Tours

Headlining Tours

• The Awakening Tour (2017)

Supporting Tours

• Summer Soulstice Tour with Maxwell (2014)
• One Night with Ne-Yo Tour with Ne-Yo (2014)
• BET Music Matters Tour (2015)
• XIX Tour with Ro James (2017)
• NYLA Tour with Marsha Ambrosius (2019)
• Full Circle Tour with Babyface & KEM (2022)

Awards and Nominations

Kevin Ross has received several awards and nominations for his music.