John Legend: From Springfield to EGOT
John Legend, born John Roger Stephens on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio, has become an iconic figure in the music industry. His journey from a young boy singing in a church choir to an EGOT winner is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication to social activism. He is the first African American man to win all four major North American entertainment awards (EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born into a musically gifted working-class family, John's upbringing was steeped in music. His mother, Phyllis, was a seamstress and directed the church choir, while his father, Ronald, was a factory worker. His grandmother played the organ, and his father and brother played drums at the church. From a young age, John was immersed in this environment, taking piano lessons and singing in the church choir. His parents also homeschooled him for several of his elementary-school years. This strong foundation in gospel music would later blend with soul, hip-hop, and R&B influences in his unique style.
Even at a young age, Legend had clear goals. When he was fifteen years old, John wrote an essay published in the Dayton Daily News outlining his future goals: “I envision a successful musical career that will allow me to obtain high visibility in the community. This, in turn, will put me in a position of great influence, which I will utilize in order to be an advocate for the advancement of Blacks in America.” One can say he’s met and exceeded his goals.
Education and Early Career
After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he directed a co-ed a cappella group. Following his graduation in 1999, he switched gears and moved to New York City to work as a management consultant for Boston Consulting Group. However, his passion for music never waned, and he continued to perform in nightclubs, selling self-produced CDs (John Stephens [2000] and Live at Jimmy’s Uptown [2001]) at those appearances.
During this time, he was introduced to up-and-coming hip-hop artist Kanye West, and the two musicians collaborated on one another's demos. Legend contributed keyboard music and backing vocals to tracks by other artists, including Alicia Keys, Talib Kweli, and the Black-Eyed Peas. It was during this period that he adopted the stage name John Legend, coined by American poet J. Ivy, who proclaimed that John sounded "like one of the legends" after hearing him play one night.
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Breakthrough with 'Get Lifted'
Legend's major-label debut album, Get Lifted, was released in the final week of 2004 after West formed his own label (G.O.O.D. Records) with Sony Music, the first album he produced was Legend’s major-label debut,. The album became a commercial and critical success, buoyed by the ballad "Ordinary People," a song he originally penned for the Black Eyed Peas. Critics raved about the album's musical arrangements, praising Legend's fresh and classic sound.
Get Lifted earned Legend eight Grammy Award nominations, and he ultimately won three: Best R&B Album, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist.
Continued Success and Musical Evolution
Legend's sophomore effort, Once Again, was released in 2006 and won plaudits as well as Legend’s second Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance (for the single “Heaven”). Legend's musical talent has made him a mainstream star. In 2006, he performed at Super Bowl XL in Detroit, the NBA All-Star Game and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Pittsburgh.
His popularity continued with his 2008 studio release, Evolver, which featured "Green Light," a collaboration with André 3000. This song proved to be a modest hit, and the album itself reached the top of the R&B/hip-hop charts. That same year, Legend stepped in front of the cameras with a supporting role in the comedy Soul Men, starring Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson.
In 2010, Legend released Wake Up!, which he recorded with The Roots. The album received raves from music critics and tackled tunes made famous by the likes of Marvin Gaye and Nina Simone. The Curtis Mayfield-penned "Hard Times" was one of the record's main singles; another hit, "Shine," Legend's own composition, earned him a Grammy Award. He and The Roots also won a Grammy for best R&B album in 2011.
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'All of Me' and 'Glory'
2013 saw Legend release his next solo album, Love in the Future, which featured the No. 1 ballad "All of Me" as well as tracks like "Made to Love" and "You & I (Nobody in the World)." In 2015, the songwriter, along with rapper Common, won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song-"Glory"-from the film Selma. The tune also won a Grammy and an Academy Award, with both artists using their Oscar acceptance speeches to highlight contemporary issues that connected to the Civil Rights Movement.
On October 7, 2016, Legend debuted a new single, "Love Me Now." He followed in December with his fifth solo studio album, Darkness and Light, which features collaborations with Miguel and Chance the Rapper.
Television and EGOT Status
Legend tried his hand at reality television with the singing competition Duets during the summer of 2012. He worked alongside Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. The musical stars coached and performed with the contestants on the show. In late summer 2018, it was announced that Legend would join Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson as a coach on season 16 of the singing competition series The Voice. Legend went on to claim bragging rights as the winning coach with his selection of Maelyn Jarmon, before returning for season 17 of the show in fall 2019.
In 2018, Legend starred in NBC's production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert as the religious leader in his final days. On September 9, 2018, Legend made history as the youngest person ever - and the first African American man - to join the exclusive EGOT club. Along with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Legend shared the Outstanding Live Variety Special Emmy for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.
October 2018 brought the release of A Legendary Christmas, a mix of traditional and original holiday songs that included an assist from Stevie Wonder on "What Christmas Means to Me." Although A Legendary Christmas was unable to capitalize on its Grammy nomination for best traditional pop vocal album, Legend did earn a Grammy for best rap/sung performance at the 2020 ceremony, sharing the win with DJ Khaled and Nipsey Hussle for their collaboration on "Higher."
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Recent Work and Personal Life
Legend released Bigger Love on June 19, 2020. “During these painful times, some of us may wonder if it’s ok to laugh or dance or be romantic,” he said. “Lately, the images of Black people in the media have been showing us with knees on our necks, in mourning, or expressing our collective outrage. We feel all those emotions. But It’s important for us to continue to show the world the fullness of what it is to be Black and human. Through our art, we are able to do that. This album is a celebration of love, joy, sensuality, hope and resilience, the things that make our culture so beautiful and influential.”
Outside of music, Legend is involved in numerous social and charitable causes. He is a supporter of the Harlem Village Academies, a New York City organization that runs several charter schools. Legend serves as a vice-chairman on the HVA board. He explained to Black Enterprise magazine why education is such an important issue to him: "I come from a city where 40 percent to 50 percent of our kids drop out of high school. I did well in high school and then went to an Ivy League school, but I was the exception. We need to do more to make sure every kid has a quality education." Continuing with his commitment to education reform, Legend lent his song "Shine" to the 2010 documentary Waiting for Superman.
Legend became engaged to model Chrissy Teigen while the couple was on vacation in the Maldives in late 2011. They tied the knot in September 2013 in Italy. On April 14, 2016, the pair welcomed their first child, a daughter named Luna Simone. On May 16, 2018, they announced the arrival of baby No.
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