Kevin Ross stands to become the next R&B singer and songwriter to have a major impact on the music industry. A native of Washington, D.C,, Ross is a classically trained musician who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Stevie Wonder and John Legend.
While on tour with Ne-Yo, Ross sat down with rolling out to discuss his musical background and going on tour with Ne-Yo.
How were you introduced to music?
I began to take music serious as a sophomore at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. We always did a Motown review in the spring time and that particular year I was selected to do Stevie Wonder. So big deal around school was like who was gonna do Stevie Wonder and I was selected to do it. I was nervous at first, but to get that feeling from the crowd was beyond euphoric and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. Now my mission is to impart that same feeling that I felt into the audience and to inspire a new generation.
How did you plan to distinguish yourself from other artists?
There are millions of people that are going after the same job, but I was blessed to have amazing parents that supported me in anything that I wanted to do. So me going to a music school, I was 17 when I went to Berkeley, so I had no idea of what I really wanted to do. I knew that I could sing and I knew I loved to sing, but I didn’t know how I could make it into a career. I didn’t have that conversation with my parents to say, well, you know there are millions and millions of singers out here, what makes you different? They’ve always instilled in me that I was different. So going into school, I knew that I was different. Going into the music industry, I knew that I was different. I knew that God made each and every one of us different and wonderfully made. So whatever I brought to the table was different than the next man. All I had to do was walk in my purpose. So I encourage each and every person to trust in that higher power and know that anything is possible. Just walk in your purpose. You are beautifully and wonderfully made different than the next person. No matter if it is millions of people out there, why shouldn’t it be you?
What have you learned most by touring with Ne-Yo?
I was very honored to be on tour with Ne-Yo. It’s a blessing. He’s an extraordinary artist. So I respect him as a creative being. I’m just trying to soak up as much as I possibly can. I’ve learned that every single city is different and everybody’s energy is different. Most importantly, I always want to thank him for giving me this platform to perform in front of thousands of people every night, hoping that I can be as successful as he is at what he does. Or at least be an inkling of it. So I’m humbled, extremely humbled.
