Soul And / Or Related Artists
SoulwalkingStart HereThe ArtistsListen Out ForThe ChartBeen MissedRespectReal AudioOpinionNetworkJazz & FusionLinksMotown
john legend

John Legend

b. John Stephens, 28th December 1978, Springfield, Ohio, U.S.A.

John Stephens was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1978.

John Legend

At the age of five he was playing the piano and sang Gospel music.

A young John left Ohio at the age of 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

His talents were recognised by Lauryn Hill who recruited the 20 year old for her 'Everything Is Everything' sessions in 1998.

After leaving college, John relocated to New York, where he began performing.

He, also, began playing clubs on the east coast of the United States, retailing his material at these gigs.

Becoming an in-demand session musician, he began playing and writing for several artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West.

Kanye West was later to sign the artist to his new label, and it was at this time he changed his surname to 'Legend' for 2004's 'Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory'.

His debut studio release came in the form of 'Get Lifted', which was released later in the year.

A single release 'Ordinary People', saw the album reach the Top Five of Billboard's top 200.

Three Grammy Awards followed: Best R & B Album, Best R & B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist.

John Legend

A second album followed, also for Sony BMG, entitled 'Once Again' seeing the light of day in October 2006, followed by a mini album of seasonal songs entitled 'Sounds Of The Season' that December.

Various releases, additionally, began appearing as bonus tracks, or in various retail outlets such as i-Tunes.

These included the songs 'On Top Of The World' and, John's own take on the Todd Rundgren evergreen, 'Hello It's Me'.

Ordinary People

Get LiftedOnce Again

Evolver

http://www.johnlegend.com/

Real Player

Albums:

Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory (Columbia 2004)

Get Lifted (Sony BMG 2004)

Once Again (Sony BMG 2006)

Sounds Of The Season (Sony BMG 2006)

Evolver (Sony BMG 2008)

top of the page