Experts
John Legend
Singer / Songwriter
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Are you working on Michael Jackson's new album?
Legend says he just submitted one song. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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What should we be doing as individuals?
Vote, Legend says. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Inspiration & Wisdom, Politics & Policy
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How will this age be remembered?
We shouldn't define our age by 9/11, says Legend. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Future
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Is America ready for a Black president?
A resounding yes. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Is there a generation gap in understanding the Iraq War?
This generation barely knows it's at war. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Politics & Policy, World
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The Education Gap: How do we pull up young Black men?
It's about fostering optimism, Legend says. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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No matter where he goes, he will always be seen as a Black man, Legend says. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Identity
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Should we just leave Africa alone?
The moral argument is strong enough. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In World
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What is the Show Me Poverty Action Tour?
Legend teams up with Jeffrey Sachs to raise awareness among college students. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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How is the music industry changing?
A shifting balance of power. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture, Business & Economics
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How do you retain your credibility while doing commercials?
John Legend, on striking the right balance. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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How is producing music different?
The challenge of not producing clones. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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Whose music will stand the test of time?
Some one-hit wonders stand the test of time, too, says John Legend. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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Nina Simone knew what greatness sounded like, John Legend says. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Inspiration & Wisdom
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Are there still opportunities to rebel against the pop music standard?
There are many ways to define greatness, John Legend says, but there has to be attention to quality. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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What risks did you take with your music?
John Legend says he didn't want to sound like everyone else, but he wasn't surprised at his success. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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It's what Legend was working on the entire time. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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Legend got his start playing piano for Lauryn Hill. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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It's about making people fall in love again, says Legend. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Arts & Culture
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What role does faith play in your life?
Trying to find the good in religion. Read More
February 7, 2008 | In Belief
John Legend, is an American soul singer, songwriter, and pianist. He has won six Grammy Awards. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998.
After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West.
It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year. On the strength of enduring single "Ordinary People," the album reached the Top Five of the Billboard 200. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/hip-hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006. Live from Philadelphia, sold exclusively at Target stores, was a successful stopgap release that predated October 2008's Evolver.
