During all this, Legend’s side gigs were just as impressive, including a coaching spot on The Voice and an Emmy-winning performance in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. He delivered on that promise with an ever-expansive range and emotional gravitas through the ‘00s and ‘10s: his fiery, socially conscious 2010 collaboration with The Roots, Wake Up! his swooning 2013 ballad "All of Me" his smoldering 2016 release, Darkness and Light. A connection with then-up-and-coming producer Kanye West led to Legend’s 2004 debut, Get Lifted, which introduced his sandy croon as one of R&B’s most promising new voices. One invitation to play piano on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything” turned into others from hip-hop and R&B artists including Talib Kweli, Mary J. When he left home to attend UPenn at 16, he became immersed in the humming Philadelphia neo-soul scene that revolved around influential hip-hop band The Roots. ![]() Born John Roger Stephens in 1978, he was only six when he started singing in his Springfield, OH church. ![]() These accolades are driven by Legend’s towering talent, heard in his fluent command of vintage gospel and R&B, which he weaves into candlelit piano ballads and socially conscious soul burners. Legend is the first African-American EGOT winner, netting an Emmy, GRAMMYⓇ, Oscar, and Tony award. Magnetic, passionate, and disarmingly suave, John Legend’s music is a reflection of the artist himself, whose radiant charisma has lit up the ’00s entertainment landscape.
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