Vorlage:Infobox person Avriel "Avi" Benjamin Kaplan is an American singer and songwriter, most as an ex-member of the a capella group Pentatonix. He is known for his bass voice, and often acts as the vocal bass of Pentatonix.
In 2017, Kaplan debuted his solo folk music project, Avriel and the Sequoias, in which he also plays guitar. His debut EP, Sage and Stone, will be released in June 9, 2017; the first song, "Fields and Pier", premiered on April 29.[1] He is a three-time Grammy Award winner, as a part of Pentatonix.[2][3] In May 2017, Kaplan announced that he was leaving Pentatonix following their upcoming tour.
Biography
Kaplan was born on April 17, 1989 in Visalia, California, where he was also raised. He has a brother and a sister, the latter now being Pentatonix' tour manager.[4]
He is Jewish, which led to him being repeatedly bullied as a kid.[4]
He loved folk music, and frequently went to the nearby Sequoia National Park, which became an inspiration for his music. He considers his earliest musical inspirations to be Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Bill Withers. Later inspirations include Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, Ben Harper, and José González.[5]
Career
Before joining Pentatonix, Kaplan was already an accomplished a capella artist, while also performing in operas and jazz.[4]
He joined Pentatonix in 2011, when original members Kirstin Maldonado, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying were searching for a bass singer and a beatboxer. The group met the day before the auditions for the third season of The Sing-Off began.[6] The group successfully auditioned for the show and eventually went on to win the title for 2011 (season three).[7] Kaplan acts as the group's vocal bass, but frequently sings lead parts as well.
On April 29, 2017, Kaplan premiered "Fields and Pier", his first song as a solo artist, under the name "Avriel and the Sequoias". His debut EP, Sage and Stone, will be released in June 9, 2017.[1] In May 2017, Kaplan announced that he was leaving the group following their upcoming tour.[8]
Discography
Avriel and the Sequoias
- Sage and Stone (EP, 2017)
Pentatonix
As a guest
References
External links
- Vorlage:Official website
- Vorlage:PAGENAMEBASE Video auf YouTubeFehler bei Vorlage * Parametername unbekannt (Vorlage:YouTube): "u"
- ↑ a b Media. In: Avriel and the Sequoias' official website. Abgerufen am 30. April 2017.
- ↑ Grammy Awards Winners. Abgerufen im February 8, 2015 Referenzfehler: Ungültiger Parameter in
<ref>. - ↑ Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List. Abgerufen im December 10, 2016
- ↑ a b c Welcome to the a Capella Revolution. In: Forward. 11. Februar 2014, abgerufen am 30. April 2017.
- ↑ Referenzfehler: Ungültiges
<ref>-Tag; kein Text angegeben für Einzelnachweis mit dem Namen SequoiasBio. - ↑ Jean Bentley: 'The Sing Off' winners Pentatonix on YouTube, Nick Lachey and recording an album. In: zap2it.com. 29. November 2011, abgerufen am 25. August 2012.
- ↑ Phil Gallo: 'The Sing-Off' Finale: Pentatonix Takes The Trophy. In: Billboard.com. 29. November 2011, abgerufen am 25. August 2012.
- ↑ Erin Nyren: Avi Kaplan Exits Pentatonix in Tearful Goodbye Video. In: Variety. Penske Media Corporation, 12. Mai 2017, abgerufen am 13. Mai 2017.
- ↑ Home Free Cover Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire’ A Capella With Pentatonix’s Avi Kaplan [VIDEO]. In: Pop Crush. 24. Juli 2014, abgerufen am 30. April 2017.