John Legend (born John Stephens on 28 December 1978 in Springfield, Ohio) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. His debut studio album, the platinum-selling Get Lifted, was released in late 2004, and features collaborations with rapper and producer Kanye West as well as Snoop Dogg. Get Lifted produced two singles: "Used to Love U" (US top 100, UK top 30) and "Ordinary People" (US and UK top 30). Legend has won five Grammy Awards. Prior to the release of his debut album, Legend's career gained momentum through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established artists. Notably, Legend sang the hooks for hits by Slum Village ("Selfish", also featuring Kanye West), Jay-Z ("Encore"), and Dilated Peoples ("This Way", also featuring Kanye West); played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything is Everything"; and sang background vocals on Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name" and Fort Minor's "High Road." The neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to go to college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory.
Singles
2004 "Used to Love U", "Ordinary People"
2005 "Number One", "So High"
2006 "Save Room", "Heaven"
2007 "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)", "Stereo", "Another Again", "Show Me", "Each Day Gets Better"
Guest Appearances
2003 "Lucifer" Jay-Z The Black Album
"Encore" Jay-Z The Black Album
"Swing By My Way" Will.i.am Must B 21
"Summer Kiss" Gerald Veasley Velvet
2004 "Hey Girl" Estelle The 18th Day
"Freedom" Estelle The 18th Day
"This Way" Dilated Peoples Neighborhood Watch
"U Know" White Boy No Gray Area
"So Soulful" Consequence Take 'Em to the Cleaners
"Getting Out the Game" Consequence Take 'Em to the Cleaners
"Selfish" Slum Village Detroit Deli
"Around My Way" Talib Kweli The Beautiful Struggle
2005 "It's Alright" Kanye West The College Dropout bonus CD
"Faithful" Common Be
"They Say" Common Be
"Grown Man Pt. 2" Young Gunz Brothers From Another
"I've Been Waiting On You" Miri Ben-Ari The Hip-Hop Violinist
"Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" John Legend Hitch Soundtrack
"Like That" Black Eyed Peas Like That Single
"Love Won't Let Me Wait" Luther Vandross So Amazing
"Touch" Ray Charles Genius & Friends
"Hello, It's Me" John Legend iTunes Exclusive
"Please Don't Stop" Richard Bona Tiki
"High Road" Fort Minor The Rising Tied
"Home" Kanye West Freshmen Adjustment
2006 "Please Baby Don't" Sergio Mendes Timeless
"Sing You Sinners" Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic
"Finally" Fergie The Dutchess
"Do U Wanna Ride" Jay-Z Kingdom Come
"King & Queen" Mary J. Blige Reflections - A Retrospective
"Tōkage" Chemistry (band) Tōkage
2007 "Feel This Way" Consequence Don't Quit Your Day Job
"Loneliness" Keyshia Cole Just Like You
"Where We Were Wrong" Keyshia Cole Just Like You
"Ghetto Rich" Rich Boy Rich Boy
"Eternity" Big & Rich Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
"Celebrate" Cassidy B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story
"Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)" Estelle Shine
"You Are" Estelle Shine
Similar artists include:
Will.i.am, Cody Chesnutt, Chrisette Michele, Ne-Yo, Jamie Foxx, Rahsaan Patterson, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Dwele, Musiq, Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq, D'Angelo, Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, Miri Ben-Ari, Aretha Franklin, Twista, Fergie, Common, Talib Kweli, Mary J. Blige