John legend biography nationality american

American R&B singer (born )

John Roger Stephens (born December 28, ), known professionally as John Legend, is an American chorister, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working ass the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything," and the stage as an uncredited backing choir member on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know Hooligan Name". He was the control artist to sign with Kanye West's GOOD Music, through which he released his debut shop album, Get Lifted (). Loftiness album reached the top move of the Billboard , old hat double platinum certification by illustriousness Recording Industry Association of U.s. (RIAA) and spawned his be in first place hit song, "Ordinary People".

Legend won three Grammy Awards evacuate eight nominations at the Xlviii Annual Grammy Awards—"Ordinary People" won Best Male R&B Vocal Cabaret, Get Lifted won Best R&B Album, and Legend won Blow out of the water New Artist; the album's endorsement single, "So High" (remixed lift Lauryn Hill), was nominated fit in Best R&B Performance by shipshape and bristol fashion Duo or Group with Vocals. His second album, Once Again (), was met with prolonged success, supported by the guide single "Save Room". His base album, Evolver (), further distinct his artistry with other genres; its funk-inspired lead single, "Green Light" (featuring André ) bloodless within the top 30 understanding the Billboard Hot and standard double platinum certification by distinction RIAA. That same year, Romance released the live album John Legend: Live from Philadelphia (), followed by his collaborative recording, Wake Up! () with Philadelphia-based hip hop band the Breed.

Legend's fourth studio album, Love in the Future () was preceded by the hit inimitable "All of Me". The popballad saw his furthest commercial come off as it peaked atop class Billboard Hot , spent 23 consecutive weeks in the chart's top ten, and received systematic diamond (14× platinum) certification vulgar the RIAA. In , significant co-performed with Meghan Trainor go on a goslow her single "Like I'm Gonna Lose You", which peaked parcel up number seven on the graph. The following year, he at large his fifth album Darkness viewpoint Light () and departed detach from GOOD Music. Legend has on account of released A Legendary Christmas (), Bigger Love ()—which won high-mindedness Grammy Award for Best R&B Album—and his ninth album, Legend ().

Throughout his musical life's work, Legend has received a ruin of 12 Grammy Awards. Stem , he won the Adorned David Starlight Award from blue blood the gentry Songwriters Hall of Fame.^[2] Chronicle won the Academy Award carry Best Original Song and Blonde Globe Award for his free "Glory" (with Common), which was released for the film Selma. He won the NAACP's President's Award in ^[3][4] In Station acting, Legend won a Proper Award for co-producing the embellish play Jitney (), and portray the titular character in NBC's adaptation of the rock theatre Jesus Christ Superstar (). Of course received a Primetime Emmy Reward nomination for his acting comport yourself, and won the award backing his role as a fabricator of the show, making him the first Black male existing second youngest recipient of name four of the major Earth entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Accolade, and Tony (EGOT) in ^[5][6] Legend also has served whereas a vocal coach for ethics reality competition series The Voice for nine seasons since neat sixteenth season in He became the show's senior coach succeeding Blake Shelton's departure.

Early woman and education

John Roger Stephens was born on December 28, , in Springfield, Ohio.^[7] He decay the eldest of four children^[8] of Phyllis Elaine (née Lloyd), a seamstress, and Ronald Lamar Stephens, a factory worker dislike International Harvester.^{[9][10][11][12]} His father was a drummer, while "his colloquial sang and directed the creed choir, and his grandmother was the church organist".^[13]

In , Anecdote stated that his parents were divorced for 12 years formerly reuniting.^[14] Legend was homeschooled hunk his mother.^[15] He began about the piano at age 4.^[16][17] At the age of 7, he performed with his creed choir.^[18] Because of his scholarly talent, he skipped two grades.^[13]

At the age of 12, Chronicle entered North High School pulsate Springfield, Ohio^[13] and graduated student. At the age of 15, Legend won a Black Earth Month essay competition sponsored because of McDonald's, following the prompt "How do you intend to false Black history?" with an style about how he intended take be a successful musician.^[19]

At righteousness age of 16, he registered at the University of Colony in Philadelphia, where he served as president and musical president of the co-ed jazz extract pop a cappella group, honesty Counterparts. His lead vocals redirect the group's recording of Joan Osborne's "One of Us", bound by fellow University of Penn alum Eric Bazilian of probity Hooters, received critical acclaim, docking the song on the indication list of the Best succeed Collegiate a Cappella compilation CD.^[20] Legend was also a contributor of the Sphinx Senior Speak in unison, one of Penn's undergraduate high up societies, and Onyx Senior Standing Society. While at Penn, Novel was introduced to American songster Lauryn Hill by a correlative friend; Hill hired him spread play piano on "Everything Quite good Everything", a song from haunt album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.^[21] He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's moment in English, with an ardour on African-American literature in ^[22][23]

Career

Career beginnings

After graduating from the College of Pennsylvania, Stephens worked chimpanzee a management consultant at character Boston Consulting Group (BCG) unacceptable began producing, writing, and video recording his own music.^[13] He out two albums independently: his self-titled demo () and Live bonus Jimmy's Uptown (), which proceed sold at his shows. Subside subsequently began working on splendid demo tape and began dissemination his work to various snap labels.^[15][14]

In , Devo Springsteen naturalized Legend to Kanye West, regular then up-and-coming hip-hop artist; Stephens was hired to co-write gambit perform hooks on several manipulate West's songs. After signing blame on West's GOOD Music, Stephens chose his stage name from information bank idea that was given appointment him by poet J. A type of climbing plant, due to what he seeming as an "old-school sound". Vine told Stephens: "I heard your music and it reminds great of that music from ethics old school. You sound come into view one of the legends. Kind a matter of fact, that's what I'm going to shout you from now on! I'm going to call you Bathroom Legend." After Ivy continued have knowledge of call him by the modern moniker "John Legend", others gladly caught on, including West. Undeterred by Stephens' reluctance to adopt unblended stage name, he ultimately declared his new artist name likewise John Legend.^[21][24]

– Debut album weather Grammy Award

Legend released his introduction studio album, Get Lifted, try GOOD Music, in a public venture with Sony BMG's University Records in December It featured production from Kanye West, Dave Tozer, and , and debuted at number seven on rectitude US Billboard , selling , copies in its first week.^[25] It went on to trade be in the busines , copies in the Merged States and was certified funds by the Recording Industry Make contacts of America (RIAA).^[26][27] An universal success, Get Lifted also reached number one on the Scandinavian Albums Chart and peaked surrounded by the top ten in primacy Netherlands and Sweden, resulting slight worldwide sales of , copies.^[21] Critically acclaimed, it won description Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and earned Legend selection two nominal awards for Beat New Artist and Best Person R&B Vocal Performance. Altogether, say publicly album produced four singles, together with debut single "Used to Attachment U", which entered the highest 30 of the New Island and UK Singles Chart, slab Grammy Award-winning "Ordinary People" which peaked at 24 on honesty Billboard Hot Legend also co-wrote Janet Jackson's "I Want You", which was certified platinum slab received a nomination for Outrun Female R&B Vocal Performance ignore the 47th Annual Grammy Awards.^[28]

Legend was featured on several chronicles in the following years. Grace appeared on albums by Alliance Minor, Sérgio Mendes, Jay-Z, Warranted J. Blige, the Black Dull Peas, Stephen Colbert, Rich Girlhood, MSTRKRFT, Chemistry, and Fergie, mid others. Legend also tentatively historical with Michael Jackson on unblended future album, for which filth had written one song.^[29] Cover August , Legend appeared take away an episode of Sesame Street, where he performed the declare "It Feels Good When Sell something to someone Sing a Song", a dancing with Hoots the Owl.^[30] Be active also performed during the pregame show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit, and the parttime show at the NBA All-Star Game.^[31][32]

In October , Legend's second album, Once Again, was released. Legend co-wrote and co-produced the bulk of the single, which saw him returning work stoppage work with West, and Tozer, as well as other producers including Raphael Saadiq, Craig Organism, Sa-Ra, Eric Hudson, Devo Springsteen, and Avenue.^[33] Released to elder commercial success, it reached release three on the Billboard add-on debuted atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It has by reason of received platinum certification by honesty RIAA, and attained gold corroboration in Italy, the Netherlands, cope with the United Kingdom. At depiction Grammy Awards, the song "Heaven" won Best Male R&B Uttered Performance, while lead single "Save Room" received a nomination have as a feature the Best Male Pop Show the way category. That same night, Romance won Best R&B Performance contempt a Duo or Group find out Vocals for his cover custom "Family Affair", a collaboration familiarize yourself Sly & the Family Endocarp, Joss Stone and Van Chase, from the former's remix sticker album, Different Strokes by Different Folks ().

– Evolver

In January , Legend sang in a gramophone record for Barack Obama, produced harsh called "Yes We Can".^[34] Say publicly same year, Legend had orderly supporting, singing-only role in class movie Soul Men, where noteworthy plays the deceased lead chanteuse of a fictitious soul arrangement that includes Samuel L. Pol and Bernie Mac. In Oct, he released his third mansion album, Evolver.^[35] Speaking about nobility reasons for calling the tome Evolver, he stated: "I judge people sometimes come to calculate certain things from certain artists. They expect you to thick-skinned of stay in the by a long way place you were at what because you started out. Whereas Funny feel I want my being to be defined by character fact that I'm NOT gonna stay in the same well, and that I'm always gonna try new things and close. So, as I think that album represents a manifestation come close to that, I came up appear the title 'Evolver'."^[36] The ep was preceded by dance-pop-influenced trigger tempo single "Green Light" which featured rapper Andre of OutKast and became his highest-charting individual since "Ordinary People"; it was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.^[37] On March 30, , Saga performed "America the Beautiful" interchangeable front of a sold-out throng of 74, in the Metropolis Citrus Bowl, now known bring in Camping World Stadium, for WWE's WrestleMania XXIV.^{[citation needed]}

In , Chronicle performed in The People Speak, a documentary feature film put off uses dramatic and musical goings-on of the letters, diaries, gift speeches of everyday Americans, home-grown on historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the Mutual States.^[38] Also in , Story and the Roots teamed tablecloth to record a collaborative baby book, Wake Up!, which was on the rampage on September 21, ^[39] Picture first single released from righteousness album was "Wake Up Everybody" featuring singer Melanie Fiona pointer rapper Common.^[40][41] In November , Legend was featured on West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Dream album, listed a feature backwards the song 'Blame Game'. Mass February , Legend won prizes at the 53rd Once a year Grammy Music Awards. He was awarded Best R&B Song commissioner "Shine", while he and distinction Roots won Grammy Awards obey Best R&B Album and Stroke Traditional R&B Vocal Performance intend "Hang On in There". Observe March , Legend and prestige Roots won two NAACP Feelings Awards, one for Outstanding Volume (Wake Up!) and one stick up for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration.^{[citation needed]}

– Federal lawsuit and swamp tour

On July 5, , composer Anthony Stokes filed a breach lawsuit against Legend in blue blood the gentry United States District Court let somebody see the District of New Woolly, alleging that Legend's song "Maxine's Interlude" from his album Once Again derives from Stokes' substantiation "Where Are You Now".^[42] Stokes claimed he gave Legend boss demo of the song deceive following a concert at influence University of North Carolina enthral Chapel Hill.^[43] Legend denied greatness allegations, telling E! Online, "I never heard of his number cheaply until he sued me. Beside oneself would never steal anyone's tag. We will fight it in bad taste court and we will prevail."^[44] However, nearly 60, people took a poll that compared nobility two songs and 65% several voters believed that Legend's "Maxine's Interlude" is a rip-off cut into Stokes' "Where Are You Now".^[45] A year later, Legend chronic that he settled out get a hold court with Stokes for take in undisclosed amount.^[46]

Also in , Version completed a date tour by the same token a guest for British typeface band Sade. In the San Diego performance, Legend confirmed think about it he was working on surmount next studio album and phony a new song called "Dreams".^[47] Later, via his official site, he revealed the official designation of the album to befall Love in the Future, title debuted part of a original track called "Caught Up". Excellence album has been executive-produced coarse Legend himself, along with Kanye West and Dave Tozer – the same team who awkward on Legend's previous albums Get Lifted, Once Again, and Evolver. Legend has stated that fulfil intention for the record was "To make a modern lettering album – to flip lose one\'s train of thought classic feel into a contemporary context."^[48]

Legend was granted an Intended Doctorate Degree from Howard Hospital at the th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 12, ^[49] Legend was a judge reservation the ABC music show Duets along with Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, and Robin Thicke. Legend's spot was originally for Lionel Richie, who had to off the show due to first-class scheduling conflict. Duets debuted gravity Thursday, May 24, ^[50]

He on the rampage his fourth studio album, Love in the Future, on Sept 3, , debuting number 4 on the Billboard , bargain 68, copies in its greatest week.^[51] The album was downhearted for Best R&B album pretend the Grammy Awards.^[52] Legend's ordinal single from the album, "All of Me", became an universal chart success, peaking at figure one on the Billboard Give off for three consecutive weeks very last reaching the top of sestet national charts and the ultra ten in numerous other countries, becoming one of the flourishing digital singles of all constantly. It was ranked the position best-selling song in the Pooled States and the United State during The song is efficient ballad dedicated to his spouse, Chrissy Teigen, and was superb at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

In , Legend partnered with the rapper Common close write the song "Glory", featured in the film Selma, which chronicled the Selma to Author marches. The song won birth Golden Globe Award for Outstrip Original Song as well trade in the Academy Award for Superlative Original Song. Legend and Usual performed "Glory" at the 87th Academy Awards on February 22, ^{[citation needed]}

Legend was featured motion Meghan Trainor's "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" from her inauguration studio album, which reached matter eight on the Billboard Piping hot On February 1, , flair sang "America the Beautiful" intimate the opening ceremony of Great Bowl XLIX. He provided patron vocals on Kelly Clarkson's tune "Run Run Run" for socialize album Piece by Piece. Unquestionable also co-wrote and provided vocals for French DJ David Guetta's song "Listen", as part comatose the album Listen.

–present: Resurgence

Legend released his new album Darkness and Light, with first singular "Love Me Now", on Dec 2, , with songs featuring Chance the Rapper and Miguel. Legend featured on Kygo's tune "Happy Birthday" for his introduction studio album "Cloud Nine" floating in ^{[citation needed]}

For the integument Beauty and the Beast, Story and Ariana Grande performed boss duet on the title railway, a remake of the nifty version sung by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.^[53] In Apr , Crow: The Legend, adroit short animation film, premiered warmth prologue at the Tribeca Album Festival. Legend was cast dilemma the title role as rectitude character Crow. He also served as executive producer for say publicly project and performed the first song "When You Can Fly".^[54] The film won at xiii different film festivals including blue blood the gentry LA Film Festival where put off made its North American first showing in ^[55] The film won Best Animation VR Experience miniature the Raindance Film Festival nearby received nomination for Best 1 Reality Production at the Forty-six Annual Annie Awards.^{[citation needed]}

On Dec 19, , NBC announced go off Legend had been cast subordinate the title role in nobleness live concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.^[56] The production was broadcast animate on NBC television on Apr 1, (the date of Wind Sunday that year in Southwestern Christianity).^[57] On May 8, , Google chose Legend as sole of the six new Yahoo Assistant voices.^[58]

Legend was one own up the few celebrities to development and speak out in high-mindedness Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly.^[59] The six-part docuseries details coitus abuse allegations spread over quatern decades against acclaimed R&B songstress R. Kelly.^[60] It focuses continuous women who allege that honourableness musician and record producer tattered his status and influence tip off sexually and physically abuse column and young girls for decades.^[59] Legend lambasted R. Kelly textile his interview in the endorsement episode of the series, declaratory that "R. Kelly has wearied so much pain to fair many people. Time's up send for R. Kelly."^[61][62]

In spite of frequent public allegations and controversies with respect to Kelly, Legend stood as probity only major recording artist willing to help to come forward and assert against him in the documentary.^[59][61] In response to fans who labeled him as "brave" backing his actions, Legend stated greatness following on Twitter ahead wheedle the program's debut:^[62] "To each telling me how courageous Uproarious am for appearing in character doc, it didn't feel shaky at all. I believe these women and don't give practised fuck about protecting a magazine child rapist. Easy decision."^[61] As long as producer Dream Hampton revealed go wool-gathering it was "incredibly difficult" inhibit get men and women who had artistically collaborated with Actress to come forward, including those who had criticized him. Midst an interview with Detroit Bring to light Press she said, "We recognizance Lady Gaga. We asked Erykah Badu. We asked Céline Dion. We asked Jay-Z. We by choice Dave Chappelle. [They're] people who have been critical of him. That makes John Legend plane more of a hero help out me."^[60]

On May 21, , Chronicle was the winning coach accentuate The Voice, and won illustriousness competition with his artist Maelyn Jarmon.^[63] In November, Legend was named People's Sexiest Man Alive.^[64][65][66] In , Legend was situate on a seventh album. Set May 13, , he declared the album would be noble Bigger Love. It was on the rampage on June On May 28, , Legend received an gratuitous doctorate from Berklee College time off Music.^[67] On June 19, , Legend performed alongside Alicia Keys for episode fifteen of Verzuz.^[68] Legend is featured on Carrie Underwood's Christmas album My Gift. Legend wrote his featured sign entitled Hallelujah.^[69] Legend was betwixt the performers in the Celebrating America television event held start Inauguration Day ^[70] He unconfined the commencement address to greatness Duke University Class of ^[71] On November 12, , Myth signed with Republic Records make sure of completing the contract that lasted for 17 years with Sony Music.

In February , Saga launched the music-based NFT sphere, OurSong.^[72] On April 3, , performed a new song dubbed "Free" at the 64th Every year Grammy Awards as a recognition to the fallen citizens execute Ukraine amid Russo-Ukrainian War.^[73] Dirt was joined on stage jump by three Ukrainian female artists Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newtown, dowel poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.^[74] On Sep 9, , he released jurisdiction eighth studio album titled Legend. The following month, Legend became The Voice's senior coach cattle its 24th season after prestige departure of singer Blake Shelton.^[75]

Philanthropy

Legend performed a benefit concert establish Springfield, Ohio in in sustain of a tax levy friendship the Springfield City School District.^[76]

In May , Legend partnered awaken Tide laundry detergent to strengthen engage awareness about the need round families in St. Bernard Church (Chalmette, Louisiana), one of probity areas most devastated by Whirlwind Katrina; he spent a all right folding laundry at the Direction "clean start" mobile laundromat flourishing visited homes that Tide was helping to rebuild in walk community. On July 7, , Legend participated in the Stand for Earth concert in London, discharge "Ordinary People". After reading Associate lecturer Jeffrey Sachs' book The Be over of Poverty, Legend started coronet Show Me Campaign in Consign this campaign, Legend called far from certain his fans to help him in his initiative for natives in Bosaso Village, Somalia^{[77][failed verification]} and non-profit organizations partnered go through the campaign.

In early , he began touring with Alexus Ruffin and Professor Jeff Sachs of Columbia University's Earth Association to promote sustainable development hoot an achievable goal. Legend connubial Sachs as a keynote conversationalist and performer at the prefatory Millennium Campus Conference. Legend so joined the Board of Cabinet of the Millennium Campus Web (MCN), and has aided MCN programs through online support present-day funding fellowships for MCN season interns through the Show Maximum Campaign. In , Legend gave AIDS Service Center NYC redress to remix his song "If You're Out There" to compose a music video promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and testing.^[78]

On January 22, , he performed "Sometimes Crazed Feel Like a Motherless Child" on the Hope for Land Nowtelethon show.^[79] On September 8, , John Legend joined rank national board of Teach Demand America.^[80] Legend also sits credence the boards of the Training Equality Project, the Harlem Settlement Academies, and Stand for Family unit. He serves on the Harlem Village Academies' National Leadership Gaming-table. On September 9, , take action performed "Coming Home" on primacy Colbert Report as a acclamation song for the end help combat operations in Iraq, come to rest for the active troops highest the veterans of the Allied States Armed Forces.^[81] In , he contributed the track "Love I've Never Known" to depiction Red Hot Organization's most brand-new album Red Hot+Rio 2. Class album is a follow-up be bounded by the Red Hot+Rio. Proceeds outsider the album sales were laudatory to raise awareness and flat broke to fight AIDS/HIV and linked health and social issues. Verify March 6, , John Narrative was appointed by the Fake Economic Forum to the Convention of Young Global Leaders.^[82] Subsequent that year, Legend stopped because of Children's Hospital Los Angeles have a thing about a surprise visit and physics performance as a part staff Get Well Soon Tour.^[83] Reinforcement June 1, , Legend finalize at Gucci's global concert page in London whose campaign, "Chime for Change", aims to bung awareness of women's issues remove education, health and justice.^[84] Mistakenness a press conference before circlet performance, Legend identified himself translation a feminist saying, "All general public should be feminists. If other ranks care about women's rights grandeur world will be a wiser place."^[85]

In , Legend founded class FREEAMERICA campaign, which aims have an adverse effect on help reform incarceration in say publicly United States.^[86] He also substantiated the ballot initiative to unravel Florida Amendment 4, which immature the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions.^[87]

In , Novel co-signed a letter to class United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon mission for a more humane medicine policy, along with people specified as Richard Branson, Jane Histrion, and George Shultz.^[88] The pursuing year, Legend appeared on Metropolis State University's speaker series additional was recognized by Voices Blaspheme Injustice (formerly known as grandeur Salem Award Foundation for Body Rights and Social Justice) importation the inaugural Salem Advocate lack Social Justice.^[89] Also in Version donated $, to Springfield Flexibility School District to renovate apartment building auditorium, which is named close in his honor, within the Massachusetts Center of Innovation.^[90] He entire at the John Legend Transient on October 9, ^[91] Tidy , he starred in chaste animated virtual-reality short film certain and directed by Eric Darnell, titled Crow: The Legend, climb on with Oprah Winfrey, telling spick Native American origin tale.^[92] Subside also sits on the admonitory board & is a budgetary supporter of FUSE Corps, moderating racial inequality and breaking pick-me-up barriers which contribute to illiberality.

Personal life

Legend met model Chrissy Teigen in while filming honesty music video for his concert "Stereo".^[93][94] They became engaged divulge December ^[95][96] and were connubial on September 14, , limit Como, Italy.^[97] His song "All of Me" is dedicated know her. The couple has a handful of children: a daughter born back April ,^[98] a son whelped in May ,^[99] and far-out daughter born in January ^[] Their first three children were all conceived via in vitro fertilization.^[][] On June 28, , Teigen announced on social transport that the couple had straighten up fourth child, a son, foaled via surrogacy on June 19, ^[]

In , the couple was expecting a third child,^[] nevertheless Teigen lost the baby test twenty weeks due to a-ok pregnancy complication.^[] The pregnancy trouncing was described by media makeover a late miscarriage; in , Teigen clarified that the misfortune was "an abortion to single out abrogate my life for a youngster that had absolutely no chance".^[][][]

On the PBS series Finding Your Roots, it was determined give it some thought Legend's genetic makeup is 64% African, 32% European, and 4% Native American.^[]

Legend endorsed Kamala Diplomat for the US Presidential election.^[]

Discography

Main article: John Legend discography

Studio albums

Tours and residencies

Headlining tours

• Get Lifted Journey ()
• Once Again Tour ()
• Evolver Journey ()
• Love in the Future Field Tour ()
• Darkness and Light Imitation Tour ()
• A Legendary Christmas Jaunt (–19)
• Bigger Love Tour ()
• An Even with John Legend ()

Residencies

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards contemporary nominations

Main article: List of glory and nominations received by Lavatory Legend

See also

References