Kevin Ross (musician) facts for kids

Kevin Ross (born December 8, 1987) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He used to be signed with Motown Records. His first album, The Awakening, came out in March 2017. Kevin Ross is also a talented songwriter. He has written songs for many famous artists like Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, and Toni Braxton. He became well-known in 2014 after being part of a Glade holiday advertisement. His version of the song "This Is My Wish" became very popular then.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Kevin Ross grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His family was full of musicians. When he was a child, his father's side of the family, who all sang and played instruments, greatly influenced him.

He went to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a special high school for performing arts in Washington, D.C. During his second year, he sang songs by Stevie Wonder in a Motown tribute. This experience made him realize he wanted to be a musician. After high school, he received a scholarship to the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, he studied how to write and produce modern music.

Kevin Ross's Music Career

While at Berklee College, Kevin appeared on BET's "106 and Park" show. He won their "Wild Out Wednesday" competition. This win caught the attention of Troy Taylor, a well-known music producer. After graduating, Kevin moved to Atlanta to start his songwriting career. He wrote songs for artists like Trey Songz and Jamie Foxx. Soon after, he signed a record deal with Motown Records.

First Releases and The Awakening

Kevin's first solo music with Motown was an EP (a short album) called Dialogue in the Grey. It came out in 2014 and had four songs. Other artists like Ne-Yo and T.I were featured on it. This EP helped Kevin go on national tours. He opened for Maxwell on his Summer Soulstice tour and for Ne-Yo on his One Night With Ne-Yo tour.

In the same year, Kevin Ross became the face of Glade's "This Is My Wish" holiday campaign. Because of his successful year, AOL named him their "Best New Artist" for 2014. In 2015, Kevin announced his first full album, The Awakening. It was finally released on March 24, 2017. While waiting for the album, Kevin created a popular series of 1990s R&B song mash-ups. These became very popular on social media and helped him reach new fans.

In 2016, he released "Long Song Away," the first official song from his debut album. This song reached the top spot on Billboard's Adult R&B Song chart. It also topped the Urban Adult Contemporary radio chart. This was a big achievement, as he was the first new Motown artist since 2010 to do so. His album The Awakening included songs with Chaz French, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Lecrae. It also featured production by Babyface. Later in 2017, Kevin released his third EP, Drive.

Starting His Own Music Company

After releasing Drive, Kevin Ross took a short break from music. In January 2019, he announced that he was leaving Motown. He also shared that he was starting his own music company called Art Society Music Group.

When asked why he left Motown, Kevin explained that he wanted more freedom. He wanted to be able to decide who he worked with. He said that sometimes, when too many people are involved, it can be hard to get the best results, even if everyone has good intentions.

With his new company, Kevin announced a new song, "Thing Called Love," and a new album, Audacity. The album was first planned for spring 2019 but was released later. In December 2019, Kevin announced that the 7-song EP Audacity, Vol. 1 would be released on January 31, 2020.

Kevin Ross's Music Albums and Songs

Studio Albums

EPs (Short Albums)

Singles (Individual Songs)

Tours and Performances

Kevin Ross has performed on his own tours and as a supporting act for other artists.

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 been recognized for his musical talents with several awards and nominations.