Peter Hollens
Peter Hollens | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hollens in 2014 | ||||||||||
Background information | ||||||||||
Born | Ashland, Oregon | March 4, 1982|||||||||
Origin | Eugene, Oregon | |||||||||
Genres | Classically trained vocalist, A cappella | |||||||||
Occupation(s) | Vocalist, YouTuber, Entrepreneur | |||||||||
Instrument(s) | Vocals, Vocal percussion | |||||||||
Years active | 2002–present | |||||||||
Website | http://www.peterhollens.com | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2011-present | |||||||||
Genre | Music | |||||||||
Subscribers | 2 million[1] | |||||||||
|
Peter Hollens (born March 4, 1982) is an American singer/songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. He has been involved with a cappella music since 1999 when he and Leo da Silva founded the University of Oregon's a cappella group, On The Rocks, known as the first official collegiate a cappella group in Oregon.[2] He regularly releases new music videos to his YouTube channel. Peter Hollens is an American entrepreneur, educator best known as a classically trained vocal artist specializing in a cappella music on Youtube and Facebook. With over 5 million followers and subscribers, his content has received over a billion total views since 2011.
Career
Originally from Ashland, Oregon, Hollens graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal performance. Since his graduation from the University of Oregon, Hollens has become involved with collegiate a cappella,[3] including recording, producing, and judging a cappella competitions throughout the United States. In 2010, he participated in NBC’s The Sing Off, working with music director Deke Sharon and receiving acclaim from The Sing-Off judges Shawn Stockman, Nicole Scherzinger and Ben Folds for solo performances leading his group, On The Rocks.[4][5] They were eliminated 6th out of the 10 groups performing.
Hollens records and produces from his home studio in Eugene, Oregon, and also has recorded for Sony and Epic Records. Hollens's recordings include tracks for "The Sing-Off Season 2-Greatest Hits" as well as many collegiate a cappella albums for such groups as On the Rocks, Divisi, Cornell's Chordials, the Duke's Men of Yale and the Whiffenpoofs.[6] He has also recorded Sing-Off Season 2 winners, Committed, the Backbeats, and the Grammy Award-winning group The Swingle Singers.[7]
In 2011 he started his own YouTube channel, mostly posting music videos with multi-tracked a cappella covers. Repeatedly teaming up with other artists, he frequently collaborates with Lindsey Stirling and Taylor Davis. As of December 10, 2018, his channel has over 2.1 million subscribers. To support his musical endeavors, Hollens joined the newly founded crowdfunding platform Patreon in 2013. In an interview in March 2017 he mentions he's become an adviser for Patreon.[8] In 2012 he released his first album.
In 2014 he signed a deal with Sony Masterworks.[9][10] Peter released a self-titled album on October 27 of that year.
In 2015, he performed guest lead vocals for Brian Wilson's album No Pier Pressure on the song "Our Special Love".[11]
In 2016, Hollens teamed up with Home Free, the country a cappella sensation, and winners of The Sing-Off Season 4, to record an all-vocal arrangement of the hymn Amazing Grace. "I had the absolute honor of working with Home Free on this one," Hollens states in a video message at the close of the song's YouTube release. "I love these guys, they are so talented and fun. We have worked together once before on a video called "19 You + Me." [12]
Peter and debuted on Broadway in the show “Home For the Holidays, Live on Broadway” which was presented November 17 to December 30, 2017, at the August Wilson Theatre.[13] On December 12, 2017, he guest with The Piano Guys live stream call 'Light The World Christmas Concert with The Piano Guys and Friends', in which he made comment that he is in "Home For the Holidays, Live on Broadway” and would be getting a cab to the theatre.[citation needed]
Personal life
Hollens is married to Evynne Smith, co-founder of the a cappella group Divisi.[14][15] Evynne has her own YouTube channel, posting music videos, occasionally collaborating with her husband. She is also writing a musical called “Milagro.” Peter and Evynne performed in their first Broadway show, Home for the Holidays, in November 2017. They have two sons named Ashland James Hollens (born March 30, 2014) and Saylor James Hollens (born July 21, 2018).
Discography
- 2012: Hollens [HD
- 2012: Covers (VOL. 1)
- 2012: Covers (VOL. 2)
- 2014: Peter Hollens
- 2016: Misty Mountains: Songs Inspired by the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
- 2016: A Hollens Family Christmas
- 2017: Covers (VOL. 3)
- 2018: Legendary Folk Songs
- 2018: The Greatest Showman A Cappella
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards[16] | Collaborative and Solo Performer Awards/Best Song By A Solo Performer | “Shenandoah" on Covers Vol. 2 | Won |
2014 | Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards[17] | Collaborative and Solo Performer Awards/Best Song By A Solo Performer | “I See Fire” | Won |
2015 | Game Audio Network Guild Awards[18] | Best Game Music Cover/Remix Award | "Baba Yetu" (Civilization IV) feat. Malukah | Finalist |
2015 | Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards[19] | Collaborative and Solo Performer Awards/Best Folk/World Song | "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" feat. Avi Kaplan | Won |
2015 | Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards[19] | Collaborative and Solo Performer Awards/Best Pop/Rock Song | "Dark Horse" feat. Sam Tsui | Nominated |
2016 | Game Audio Network Guild Awards[20] | Best Game Music Cover/Remix Award | Assassin's Creed Syndicate - "Underground" | Won |
2016 | Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards[21] | Collaborative and Solo Performer Awards/Best Song By A Solo Performer | "Now We Are Free" | Won |
References
- ^ "About PeterHollens". YouTube.
- ^ Zimmerman, Steve (January 29, 2004). "Hidden passion no longer". Ashland Daily Tidings. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (May 20, 2011). "Our Favorite YouTube Videos This Week: The A Cappella Edition". Mashable. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ "On The Rocks". NBC Universal. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ ""The Sing-Off" Episode #2.1 (2010)". IMDb. 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ hyperdel (February 16, 2011). "An Interview With Peter Hollens". Contemporary A Cappella Society. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ "Peter Hollens '05 Sings to Make a Change". University of Oregon Alumni Association. May 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ "How Peter Hollens Changed The Music Industry From His Living Room". Forbes. March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ "Sony Music Masterworks Signs One-Man A Cappella Vocalist & YouTube Star Peter Hollens". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- ^ "YouTube Singer Peter Hollens Earns Record Deal From Sony Music". Mashable. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- ^ "Brian Wilson Taps Musical Peers for 'No Pier Pressure'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ Reuter, Annie (November 28, 2016). "Home Free Offers Stunning Rendition of 'Amazing Grace' [WATCH]". A Taste of Country. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ "Home For The Holidays Live on Broadway". New York City Theatre. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- ^ Mickey Rapkin (2008). "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory". 100 Vampire Novels. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ "evynne-hollens". evynnehollens. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "http://www.casa.org/cara2013w" CARA 2013 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016
- ^ "http://www.casa.org/cara2014w" CARA 2014 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016
- ^ "http://www.audiogang.org/awards/2015-awards/"Game Audio Network Guild 2015 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016
- ^ a b "http://www.casa.org/cara2015w" CARA 2015 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016
- ^ "http://www.audiogang.org/2016-g-a-n-g-award-winners/" Game Audio Network Guild 2016 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016
- ^ "http://www.casa.org/cara2016w" CARA 2016 Awards. Accessed May 30, 2016