Now a three-time Grammy winning artist, Kevin Olusola, was honored tonight on the ROMP stage. The City of Owensboro awarded Olusola, a member of the a cappella band, Pentatonix, with a plaque on the Owensboro Walk of Fame.
Pentatonix rose to fame after winning the 2011 TV show competition The Sing Off. Six years later the group has sold more than 6 million albums in the U.S. alone and performed for hundreds of thousands of fans at their sold-out shows across the globe. Their YouTube channel has 13 million subscribers, yielding over 2 billion views.
Want to check out a song? Check out Kevin’s favorite, “Daft Punk, ” which won them their first Grammy in 2014. The video is amazing and was shot for $400 in Kevin’s living room.
Owensboro Living sat down with Kevin after his sound check Friday afternoon on the ROMP stage.
OL – You were chosen to receive a plaque on the Owensboro Walk of Fame. What is like being honored like this?
K.O. – I am so honored and shocked that they chose me. I mean you look at the other people that are on the walk of fame and they have done such incredible things with their lives as well. And I’m so young, I mean I’m not even thirty yet. To know that I could receive this honor… it’s very humbling and exciting. More than anything, I think it’s a testament to Owensboro, because Owensboro is the place that raised me. This is the place that gave me the values that I have so that I could have this type of success in the industry. And to know that people that I grew up with, some of my classmates, are going to be in the audience, that’s such a… it’s come full circle. It’s such an honor that I will never forget.
“More than anything, I think it’s a testament to Owensboro, because Owensboro is the place that raised me.” – Kevin Olusola
OL – How does it feel to be back in Owensboro?
K.O. – It is good to be back. I haven’t been back in a while and just to see a lot of familiar faces, but also to see so much change and growth in Owensboro, that’s been really, really exciting.
OL – When was the last time you were here?
K.O. – Last time I was here was about two years ago. I probably hadn’t been back at that time in four years. So I wanted to come back and see a couple of old friends and my old cello teacher, Dr. Mack, who is still here. It was good to be back, but this time is definitely a more momentous occasion.
OL – Are you excited about being at ROMP?
K.O. – I am excited to be here. Bluegrass is such a big part of this state, of this city. So to be able to experience this for the first time is really exciting, especially as a performer. There are so many things I want to do while I am here, so I am really excited to be back. Especially to get some bar-b-q. Man, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten some good ol’ Kentucky bar-b-q.
OL – How do you feel to take the stage in your hometown?
K.O. – It is going to be very, very fun! Because I’ve learned so much as a performer in these past six years with Pentatonix, so I am excited to show the things that I have learned and just be able to play for the people that raised me. Some of my teachers are going to be out there, so ore the people that heard me when I was younger and just starting to learn these instruments. I am really excited, I think people are really going to enjoy it!
OL – When you were growing up here, did you ever imagine that you would have this in store?
K.O. – I can tell you I never imagined that this would be the life that I would be living. I grew up thinking I would be pre-med. I went to college at Yale, I was a pre-med student, so the fact that it took a turn to this when I didn’t expect it, it’s a huge blessing and an honor.
