John Legend

John Legend. Born John Roger Stephens, he is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his sophisticated blend of R&B and neo soul. He rose to fame in the early 2000s following collaborations with major artists like Kanye West and signed to West's GOOD Music imprint under Columbia Records. Legend has since achieved widespread critical and commercial success, earning the distinction of becoming the first black man and one of the youngest artists to achieve an EGOT by winning an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award.

Early Life

He was born in Springfield, Ohio, to Phyllis Elaine and Ronald Lamar Stephens, and was raised in a highly religious household where he sang in the church choir at Springfield Church of God. A child prodigy, he began playing the piano at age four and was homeschooled for a period before attending North High School, where he performed in numerous musicals. He subsequently attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in English literature with an emphasis on African-American literature; during his time there, he was the president and musical director of the a cappella group the Counterparts. After college, he worked as a management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group while performing in clubs in Philadelphia, New York City, and other major cities on the East Coast of the United States.

Career

His professional breakthrough came after a fortuitous meeting with then-upcoming producer Kanye West, who featured his vocals on several tracks, including the hit single "All of the Lights" and Slum Village's "Selfish". This led to his signing with West's GOOD Music label and the release of his debut studio album, Get Lifted, in 2004, which featured the Grammy-winning single "Ordinary People". Subsequent albums like Once Again and Evolver solidified his status, blending classic soul music with contemporary pop music production. He expanded into acting with roles in films such as La La Land and Soul Men, and on television as a coach on the singing competition The Voice. His activism is also a significant part of his career, including co-founding the FREEAMERICA campaign for criminal justice reform and performing at events like the March for Our Lives and the Democratic National Convention.

Personal Life

He married model and television personality Chrissy Teigen in a ceremony at Lake Como in Italy in 2013. The couple has four children: daughters Luna and Esti, and sons Miles and Wren. Their family life is often documented on social media and through Teigen's bestselling cookbooks. An active philanthropist, he serves on the boards of the Harlem Village Academies and the Management Leadership for Tomorrow organization. His political engagement includes campaigning for Barack Obama, performing at the White House, and advocating for progressive policies on issues ranging from education to voting rights through his The Show Me Campaign.

Discography

His studio albums include the platinum-certified Get Lifted (2004), Once Again (2006), Evolver (2008), Love in the Future (2013), Darkness and Light (2016), and Bigger Love (2020). Notable collaborative works include the album Wake Up! with The Roots, which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and the Christmas album A Legendary Christmas. His hit singles span "Used to Love U", "Save Room", "Green Light" featuring André 3000, "All of Me", and the Oscar-winning "Glory" from the film Selma, written with Common.

Awards and Achievements

He is a twelve-time Grammy Award winner, with his first awards coming for Best New Artist and Best R&B Album for Get Lifted. In 2015, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Glory". He completed his EGOT in 2018 by winning a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as a producer on the television special Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and a Tony Award as a co-producer of the Broadway revival of Jitney. Other honors include the BET Award for Best New Artist, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame's prestigious Starlight Award. He has also received recognition from Harvard University with the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal.

Category:American male singers Category:EGOT winners Category:21st-century American pianists