Pentatonix Biography

Pentatonix is an American a cappella group best known for winning NBC’s The Sing-Off and for their subsequent breakthrough on YouTube.

Career Beginnings

Kirstie Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, and Scott Hoying formed a group in highschool. They started by recording a version of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga’s Telephone for the TV show Glee, which was later posted on their YouTube channel and became popular. Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola joined the lineup in 2011. Pentatonix auditioned and eventually won The Sing-Off an NBC competition.

Sucess

In 2012, they released their debut EP PTX, Vol. 1 with covers like Nicki Minaj’s Starships. PTX, Vol. 2 was released the following year featuring versions by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Daft Punk. The EP got the five members their first Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. The 2014 PTX, Vol. 3 contained three original tracks and four tracks of which Ariana Grande’s Problem. The seasonal album That’s Christmas to Me was released a month later. It was certified platinum. The following year, the five members issued the fully original Pentatonix, their 4th album. It reached the top of Billboard 200 and singles like Can’t Sleep Love was spot 11 Billboard’s Hot 100. A release of Pentatonix’s version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene earned them another Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. PTX, Vol. 4 – Classics was revealed in 2017, was focusing on an earlier style like rock, blues, and country. The Lp features a version Imagine by John Lennon.

Photo credit: Red Brick