Pentatonix
Pentatonix (abbreviated PTX) are an American a cappella group from Arlington, Texas, consisting of vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola. Characterized by their pop-style arrangements with vocal harmonies, basslines, riffing, percussion, and beatboxing, they produce cover versions of modern pop works or Christmas songs, sometimes in the form of medleys, along with original material. Pentatonix was formed in 2011 and subsequently won the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off, receiving $200,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music.[2][3] When Sony's Epic Records dropped the group after The Sing-Off, the group formed its YouTube channel, distributing its music through Madison Gate Records, a label owned by Sony Pictures.[4][5][6]
This article is about the a capella group. For the group's 2015 album, see Pentatonix (album). For the musical scale, see Pentatonic scale.
Pentatonix
Their debut EP PTX, Volume 1 was released in 2012, followed by their holiday release PTXmas the same year, with Pentatonix's third release, PTX, Vol. II, debuting at number 1 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart and number 10 on the Billboard 200 in 2013.[4] In May 2014, Pentatonix signed with RCA Records, a "flagship" label of Sony Music Entertainment,[7] while in the same year, the group released their fourth EP, PTX, Vol. III, and two full-length studio albums; PTX, Vols. 1 & 2, a compilation album released in Japan, Korea and Australia, and their second holiday release, That's Christmas to Me, with the album certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), platinum on December 24, 2014, and double platinum on February 11, 2016, becoming the highest-charting holiday album by a group since 1962, and the fourth-best-selling album in the United States in 2014.[8][9][10] The following year, Pentatonix released their eponymous album, their first consisting mostly of original material, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart for the first time in their career, followed by a third Christmas album, A Pentatonix Christmas, in 2016, and a new EP, PTX, Vol. IV – Classics, the year after.
In September 2017, Avi Kaplan, the group’s original bass, left the group and was replaced by Sallee,[11][12] who was included on their album Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe and featured on their next album PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I. Sallee graduated from Berklee College of Music, where he had been a member of the a cappella group Pitch Slapped.[13]
Pentatonix has won three Grammy Awards: they were the first a cappella act to win Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, doing so in 2015 and 2016,[14] and Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2017.[15] On February 21, 2023, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[16]
Career[edit]
Background[edit]
Pentatonix began with Kirstin Maldonado (born May 16, 1992), Mitch Grassi (born July 24, 1992), and Scott Hoying (born September 17, 1991), who grew up together and were schoolmates at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.[17] For a local radio show competition to meet the cast of Glee, they arranged and submitted a trio version of "Telephone," the hit song by Lady Gaga and featuring Beyoncé. Despite losing the competition, their singing sparked attention at their school, and they began performing. Their version of "Telephone" subsequently gained attention on YouTube.[18]
Other media[edit]
Tours[edit]
Pentatonix embarked on their first national headlining tour in autumn of 2012. The tour spanned 30 cities. The band went on their second national headlining tour from January 24, 2013, to May 11, 2013, and simultaneously wrote additional original material for their second EP, PTX, Vol. II.[52][53][54]
In 2014, Pentatonix undertook an extensive tour that included the United States, Canada, Europe and South East Asia.[113]
In 2015, Pentatonix began the North American leg of their "On My Way Home Tour", which began February 25, 2015, in California and ended at Grand Prairie's Verizon Theatre on March 29.[114] The group started a European tour in Portugal on April 9. This European leg ended in Glasgow on May 6. The Southeast Asian leg of the tour began in Seoul, South Korea on May 28. The last show of this leg was on Jun 16 in Osaka, Japan.
Pentatonix opened for Kelly Clarkson on her Piece by Piece Tour. During Clarkson's set the group performed "Heartbeat Song" with her.[115] Due to Clarkson's doctor's requests for vocal rest, the tour was canceled 15 shows early.[116]
In 2016, Pentatonix embarked on the first leg of their "Pentatonix World Tour" with Us The Duo.[117] The tour began on April 2, 2016, in Chiba, Japan. The second leg ran from May 23 through June 26 in Europe before returning to Japan for two shows in August 2016. The third and fourth legs of the tour (in Oceania and Asia respectively) occurred in September 2016, followed by the fifth leg in North America from October 17 to November 22, 2016. The tour's 2017 shows kicked off in May with another five shows in Japan. The final leg of the tour began July 2, 2017, in Los Angeles and continued across the United States before concluding in Vermont on September 3, 2017.[118] The last show marked Kaplan's final performance with the group.
Performances[edit]
In September 2012, Pentatonix were invited to perform several of their songs ("Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye and "We Are Young" by fun.) on the Chinese edition of the Sing-Off. In addition, they covered the late Taiwanese pop star Teresa Teng's song, Tian Mi Mi.[119]
Pentatonix appeared and performed on The Today Show, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Talk and Conan. The group also returned to The Sing-Off, performing their cover version of Ellie Goulding's "I Need Your Love" during the Season 4 finale episode, which aired on December 23, 2013.[120]
In November 2014, Pentatonix were invited by Baz Luhrmann to be involved with the Holiday Window display at Barneys in New York City. Each window had a theme such as "love," "beauty," "truth" and "freedom" with its own soundtrack, recorded by Pentatonix. Pentatonix also performed at the opening night, as well as the "after-party" for invited guests.[121][122]
On November 27, 2014, Pentatonix participated in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, performing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" on the Homewood Suites float.[45][123][124]
Pentatonix also performed during NBC's annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special on December 3, 2014, performing "Sleigh Ride" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".[45][125]
Pentatonix returned to The Sing-Off, performing a medley of songs from That's Christmas to Me during the Season 5 holiday special, which aired on December 17, 2014.[126][127]
On December 7, 2014, Pentatonix appeared in The Kennedy Center Honors award presentation, as part of a presentation to actor Tom Hanks, singing the song "That Thing You Do", from Hanks' film of the same name. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were in the audience. The show was broadcast on CBS on December 30, 2014.[128]
On December 31, 2014, Pentatonix appeared as part of ABC Television Network's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015, performing from the Billboard Hollywood party hosted by Fergie.[129][130]
In December 2014, Pentatonix were invited to perform on the final episode of Wetten, dass..?, a longstanding entertainment show in Germany, performing a medley of songs from artists that have been on the program over the years.[131][132][133]
On August 1, 2019, Pentatonix played to their largest ever live crowd (as of August 2019) at the closing ceremony of the 24th World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia.[134]
On September 1, 2019, Pentatonix performed a rainy, nighttime show at the 173rd Canfield Fair in Mahoning County, Ohio, for more than 8,000 people. This set a "number of advanced sales," record for JAC Management Group, LLC since taking over Canfield Fair entertainment operations.[135]
Former members
Headlining
Supporting