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John Legend
(born John Stephens on 28 December 1978) is an American R&B singer,
songwriter, and pianist. His debut studio album, the platinum-selling
Get Lifted, was released in late 2004, and features collaborations with
rapper and producer Kanye West as well as Snoop Dogg. Get Lifted
produced two singles: "Used to Love U" (US top 100, UK top 30) and
"Ordinary People" (US and UK top 30). Legend has won five Grammy Awards.
Prior to the release of his debut album, Legend's career gained momentum
through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established
artists. Notably, Legend sang the hooks for hits by Slum Village
("Selfish", also featuring Kanye West), Jay-Z ("Encore"), and Dilated
Peoples ("This Way", also featuring Kanye West); played piano on Lauryn
Hill's "Everything is Everything"; and sang background vocals on Alicia
Keys' "You Don't Know My Name" and Fort Minor's "High Road."
****
Background
information
Birth name John
Stephens
Born December 28,
1978 (1978-12-28) (age 29)
Origin Springfield,
Ohio, United States
Genre(s) R&B, soul
Occupation(s)
Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)
Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active
2000–present
Label(s) Sony
Urban, GOOD Music
Website
www.johnlegend.com
****
Biography
Legend was born in
Springfield, Ohio. His career began at the age of 3, when his grandmother began
teaching him to play gospel piano. By the time he was 7 years old, Legend was
singing with the church choir and taking lessons in classical music. Legend
attended Springfield North High School, graduating as Salutatorian at 16. He was
also prom king and president of the student council.
Legend attended the
University of Pennsylvania (Class of 1999), where he studied English with an
emphasis on African American literature and culture. While at Penn, he helmed
Counterparts, a coed jazz and pop a cappella group as President (1997-1998) and
Musical Director (1998-1999). Legend's lead vocals on the group's recording of
Joan Osbourne's "One of Us" propelled the song to critical acclaim,[1] landing
it a coveted spot on the track list of the 1998 Best of Collegiate a Cappella
compilation CD.
Oddly enough, his
first job after graduating from Penn was not in the music business -- Legend
began working for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston and then New York City.
Before becoming a mainstream artist, Legend hit the nightclub circuit in New
York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., performing as an independent
artist and distributing live LPs such as John Stephens and Live at SOB's.
It was John
Legend's roommate and former Penn classmate, Devon Harris, professionally known
as Devo Springsteen, who introduced Legend to his cousin and then up-and-coming
hip hop artist Kanye West. Since that meeting, Legend and West have worked
closely together, with West signing Legend as the first artist to join his new
label, G.O.O.D. Music. Legend sang many of the melodic hooks on West’s demo,
which would eventually become the Grammy Award winning album The College
Dropout; in turn, West provided rhythm tracks for Legend’s demo, which would
evolve into Get Lifted. Recently, Legend contributed to fellow G.O.O.D artist
Common's LP, Be, and provided vocals for "High Road" on the album The Rising
Tied by Fort Minor (Mike Shinoda).
Recent endeavors
Legend performed
during the pregame show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit.[2] He also performed during
the halftime show at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game,[3] and he performed "God Bless
America" during the 7th inning stretch at the 2006 Major League Baseball All
Star Game in Pittsburgh, PA.[4] also he performed at the Grammy Awards.
He is also featured
in the Black Eyed Peas song, "Like That". The song "Ordinary People" was
originally meant to be for a Black Eyed Peas project, but Legend decided to keep
it for himself and recorded the song after he had been signed to Columbia
Records.
Legend appears on
the soundtrack to the film The Second Chance with the song, "Refuge".
The first single
from his second album, Once Again, was "Save Room". The album was released
October 24, 2006, and boasts production from Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, and
will.i.am.
In an interview
with MTV.com, Legend said the new album would contain his favorite song that he
has written to date, entitled "Again." He said he actually came up with the idea
for the song and wrote some of it while sitting on a subway. He stated that the
song was also the inspiration for the album's title.[citation needed]
The video for his
latest single, "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)", features Alexandre Rodrigues and
Alice Braga from the critically acclaimed film, City of God.
Legend recently
launched the Show Me Campaign[5], through which his fans are encouraged to
donate funds toward improving the living situations and prospects of the poor in
Ghana.
John Legend is also
working with Michael Jackson for his next album.
Legend appears in a
recent commercial for a Lexus SUV, in which Legend is shown listening to Nina
Simone's "Backlash Blues" (recorded live in Paris, 1968, on The Great Show LP)
and describing his experience with the music. He is also notable for performing
closing music in many of Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs' keynote presentations.
On 7 July 2007,
Legend participated in the Live Earth concert in London, performing "Ordinary
People". On July 8, 2007, he participated in the Montreux Jazz Festival in
Montreux, Switzerland, with India.Arie. On July 11, 2007, he participated in the
Jazz Open Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, with Amy Winehouse.
On July 26, 2007,
he hosted a John Legend Network Members Only Party and Concert called "The Kings
& Queens Bash" at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. There were 500
participants in attendance and he introduced the acts from his new label,
Homeschool Records to his John Legend Network fans: Estelle, his brother, Vaughn
Anthony Stephens, Lucy Woodward and The James Gang. Nikki Jean, a local
Philadelphia artist also performed. A highlight was John Legend's rendition of
the hit song Ordinary People which he performed with jazz harmonicist Frédéric
Yonnet. The John Legend Network facilated a contest where a fan could win a
chance to sing "King & Queen" with John Legend (the duet that John Legend
recorded with Mary J. Blige) and the winner was Dorothy Saintus of Crest Hill,
Illinois, where she and John Legend performed the duet live in front of everyone
there.
He appeared on the
season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, singing a cover of You Don't Know Me.
Discography
Studio albums
Get Lifted
Released: December
28, 2004
Chart positions: 4
U.S., 12 UK
U.S. sales: 2
million
RIAA certification:
Platinum
Worldwide sales: 3
million
Once Again
Released: October
24, 2006
Chart positions: 3
U.S., 10 UK
U.S. Sales: 1.6
million
RIAA certification:
Platinum
Worldwide sales:
2.5 million[6]
Third Studio Album
Released: 2008
Live albums
2001: Live at
Jimmy's Uptown
2002: Live at SOB's
2003: Solo Sessions
Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory
2006: John Legend:
Live at the House of Blues
2007: John Legend:
Live at the Tin Angel
2008: John Legend:
Live from Philadelphia exclusively at Target
Novelty albums
2007: John Legend:
Sounds of the Season
Singles
Year Song Chart
positions[7] Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S.
R&B UK Italy Dutch Top 40
2004 "Used to Love
U" 74 32 29 36 – Get Lifted
2005 "Ordinary
People" 24 4 27 30 20
"Number One"
(featuring Kanye West) – 86 62 – -
"So High"
(featuring Lauryn Hill) – 53 118 – -
2006 "Save Room" 61
17 – 6 11 Once Again
"Heaven" 112 26 – –
–
2007 "P.D.A. (We
Just Don't Care)"[8] – – 196 – 18
"Stereo" – 47 – –
17
"Another Again" – –
– – –
"Each Day Gets
Better" - - - - –
Guest appearances
Year Song Artist
Album
2003 "Lucifer"
Jay-Z The Black Album
"Encore" Jay-Z The
Black Album
"Swing By My Way"
Will.i.am Must B 21
"Summer Kiss"
Gerald Veasley Velvet
2004 "Hey Girl"
Estelle The 18th Day
"Freedom" Estelle
The 18th Day
"This Way" Dilated
Peoples Neighborhood Watch
"U Know" White Boy
No Gray Area
"So Soulful"
Consequence Take 'Em to the Cleaners
"Getting Out the
Game" Consequence Take 'Em to the Cleaners
"Selfish" Slum
Village Detroit Deli
"Around My Way"
Talib Kweli The Beautiful Struggle
2005 "It's Alright"
Kanye West The College Dropout bonus CD
"Faithful" Common
Be
"They Say" Common
Be
"Grown Man Pt. 2"
Young Gunz Brothers From Another
"I've Been Waiting
On You" Miri Ben-Ari The Hip-Hop Violinist
"Don't You Worry
'Bout a Thing" John Legend Hitch Soundtrack
"Like That" Black
Eyed Peas Like That Single
"Love Won't Let Me
Wait" Luther Vandross So Amazing
"Touch" Ray Charles
Genius & Friends
"Hello, It's Me"
John Legend iTunes Exclusive
"Please Don't Stop"
Richard Bona Tiki
"High Road" Fort
Minor The Rising Tied
"Home" Kanye West
Freshmen Adjustment
2006 "Please Baby
Don't" Sergio Mendes Timeless
"Sing You Sinners"
Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic
"Finally" Fergie
The Dutchess
"Do U Wanna Ride"
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
"King & Queen" Mary
J. Blige Reflections - A Retrospective
2007 "Feel This
Way" Consequence Don't Quit Your Day Job
"Loneliness"
Keyshia Cole Just Like You
"Where We Were
Wrong" Keyshia Cole Just Like You
"Ghetto Rich" Rich
Boy Rich Boy
"Eternity" Big &
Rich Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
"Celebrate" Cassidy
B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story
"Wait a Minute
(Just a Touch)" Estelle Shine
Other appearances
1998: The
Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill ("Everything is Everything") (pianist)
2003: Elephunk -
Black Eyed Peas ("The Boogie That Be") (as a lead vocalist and co-writer)
2003: "You Don't
Know My Name" - Alicia Keys (vocals & Pianist)
2003: Be - Common -
("They Say") (vocals)
2004: "If I Ain't
Got You" (Kanye West Remix) - Alicia Keys (as a co-writer, pianist and vocalist)
2004: "I Want You -
Janet Jackson (as a co-writer and pianist)
2004: The College
Dropout - Kanye West ("Graduation", "Jesus Walks", "Never Let Me Down" featuring
Jay-Z and J Ivy, "Slow Jamz", "Family Business","Last Call") (as a pianist and
cameo appearances in the videos for "Slow Jamz" and "The New Workout Plan")
2004: The Beautiful
Struggle - Talib Kweli ("I Try" featuring Mary J. Blige) (as a co-writer,
pianist and vocalist)
2004: "Around My
Way" - Talib Kweli (lead vocalist and pianist)
2004: "Overnight
Celebrity" - Twista (pianist)
2005: Late
Registration - Kanye West ("Hey Mama", "Celebration")
2006: Listennn...
the Album - DJ Khaled ("Grammy Family")
2006: "Young Man" -
Blacksmith: The Movement (background vocals)
2006: The Dutchess
- Fergie ("Finally" -Pianist)
2007: Between
Raising Hell and Amazing Grace - Big & Rich ("Eternity (Intro)")
2007: Graduation -
Kanye West ("Good Life", "The Glory")
2007: B.A.R.S. -
The Barry Adrian Reese Story - Cassidy ("Celebrate")
2007: I AM -
Chrisette Michele ("Love is You" -Pianist)
Mixtape appearances
2003: I'm Good -
Kanye West ("Intro" featuring John Legend)
2003: "Got Nowhere"
(remix) - Kanye West
2003: "Last Night"
featuring John Legend - Kanye West
2003: Get Well Soon
- Kanye West ("Home" featuring John Legend - uncredited)
2004: "Used to Love
U" (remix) featuring Naledge - John Legend
2006: "Do What I
Gotta Do" - John Legend [The Good Life Mixtape]
2006: "Back In the
Day" - The Last Poets featuring John Legend [The Good Life Mixtape]
2006: "So High
(Cloud 9 remix)" - John Legend featuring Lauryn Hill [The Good Life Mixtape]
2006: "All Falls
Down (Live)" - Kanye West featuring John Legend [The Good Life Mixtape]
Awards
American Music
Awards
2005, Favorite Male
R&B/Soul Artist: (nominated)
BET Awards
2007, Best Male R&B
Artist (nominated)
2005, Best New
Artist
2005, Best Male R&B
Artist: (nominated)
2005, Video of the
Year: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
Grammy Awards
2007, Best Male R&B
Vocal Performance: "Heaven"
2007, Best R&B
Performance by a Duo or Group: "Family Affair"
2007, Best Male Pop
Vocal Performance: "Save Room" (nominated)
2006, Best New
Artist
2006, Best R&B
Performance by a Duo or Group: "So High" (nominated)
2006, Best R&B
Album: Get Lifted
2006, Best
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Stay With You" (nominated)
2006, Best R&B Male
Vocal Performance: Ordinary People
2006, Best R&B
Song: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
2006, Song of the
Year: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
2006, Best Rap/Sung
Collaboration: "They Say" (nominated)
MOBO Awards
2005, Best Video:
"Ordinary People" (nominated)
2005, Best R&B Act
2005, Best Album:
Get Lifted (nominated)
MTV Video Music
Awards
2005, Best Male
Video: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
2005, Best New
Artist: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
2005, Best R&B
Video: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
Soul Train Awards
2007, Best R&B/Soul
Single Male: "Save Room"
2007, Best R&B/Soul
Album Male: Once Again (Nominated)
2006, Best R&B/Soul
Single Male: "Ordinary People"
2006, Best R&B/Soul
Album Male: Get Lifted
2005, Best R&B/Soul
or Rap New Artist: "Used to Love U" (nominated)
Vibe Awards
2005, Best R&B
Song: "Ordinary People" (nominated)
2005, Album of the
Year: Get Lifted (nominated)
2005, Artist of the
Year: (nominated)
2005, R&B Voice of
the Year: (nominated)
Philanthropy
After reading
Professor Jeffrey Sachs' book, "The End of Poverty", John Legend was inspired to
visit Ghana to learn more about making life better for others. This is when he
started The Show Me Campaign in 2007. With this campaign, Legend is calling on
his fans to help him in his initiative for those who reside in Bossaso Village
and few other non-profit organizations that the campaign partners with.
In 2007, John
Legend became the spokesman for GQ Magazine's THE GENTLEMEN'S FUND™, an
initiative to raise support and awareness for five cornerstones essential to
men: opportunity, health, education, environment, and justice.
In May 2007, John
Legend partnered with Tide to raise awareness about the need of families in St.
Bernard's Parish- one of the most devastated areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. He
spent a day folding laundry at The Tide Clean Start mobile laundromat and
visited homes that Tide is helping to rebuild in that community.
In October 2007,
John Legend got involved with the Gap's (PROJECT) Red Campaign called (2 WEEKS).
The T-shirt features a compelling message about the direct impact that you can
make on a person's life with your purchase. Gap's contribution to the Global
Fund from the sale of each (2 WEEKS) t-shirt is equivalent to the average cost
of 2 weeks of antiretroviral medicine in Africa, which enables people living
with HIV to lead healthy, normal lives.
References
1. ^ [1]
2. ^ For The
Record: Quick News On R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, Green Day, Hilary Duff, Diddy, Tommy
Lee & More - MTV News
3. ^ John
Legend and Carrie Underwood Set for All-Star Halftime Show - NBA
4. ^ Musical
performers announced for Major League Baseball All-Star Week - Major League
Baseball
5. ^
http://www.showmecampaign.org/
6. ^ Graff,
Gary (November 16, 2007). Legend Tapping Kanye, Pharrell for New Album.
Billboard. Accessed November 18, 2007.
7. ^ Artist
Chart History. Billboard. Accessed November 18, 2007.
8. ^ http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=602764
"P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)" single confirmation.
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