John Legend

John Legend
John Legend is a five-time Grammy Award winning R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. John Legend's debut album, Get Lifted, was one of 2005's top albums, ending the year with a Grammy for Best R&B Album. The album mixed classic R&B grooves with modern hip-hop sounds (and artists) andwas released in late 2004. Legend also enjoyed playing the piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything is Everything". The popular background vocals on Jay-Z's "Encore," Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name," and Fort Minor's "High Road." were also sung by John Legend.

Biography
John Legend was born on December 28, 1978 in Springfield, Ohio. Legend started playing gospel and classical piano when he was just 4. His grandmother was his first teacher. Legend got opportunities of singing with the church choir at the age of 5 or 6. Legend graduated as Salutatorian from Springfield North High School. He was also prom king and president of the student council.

John attended the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in English, with an emphasis on African American literature and culture. After completing graduation from Penn, Legends first job was not in the music business. He worked for the Boston Consulting Group in Boston and then New York City.

After finishing school he began playing clubs on the east coast of the United States. He was successful in gaining an audience and getting the notice of recording artists and producers as an accomplished studio musician. . Devon Harris, Legends former classmate at Penn, introduced Legend to his cousin and then up-and-coming hip hop artist Kanye West. Legend and West have worked closely together since that meeting. Kanye West also helped Legend leap into the spotlight and a deal with Columbia Records.

West's label, G.O.O.D. Music also signed Legend. Many of the melodic hooks on Wests demo were sung by Legend. These would eventually become the Grammy Award winning The College Dropout; and West provided rhythm tracks for Legends demo, which would evolve into Get Lifted.

Recently, Legend contributed to fellow G.O.O.D artist Common's LP, Be. Vocals for the track "High Road" on the album The Rising Tied by Fort Minor (Mike Shinoda) were also provided by him.During the pregame show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit ,Legend enjoyed his performance in front of the enthusiastic crowds. He also performed during the halftime show at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. During the 7th inning stretch at the 2006 Major League Baseball All Star Game in Pittsburgh, PA., he performed "God Bless America".

Legend also has the honor of performing at the Grammy Awards.

Legend is also featured in the Black Eyed Peas song "Like That". He recorded the song "Ordinary People" after he had been signed to Columbia Records. Legends appearance on the soundtrack to the film The Second Chance, with the song "Refuge" was greatly appreciated. The film was starring contemporary Christian music superstar Michael W. Smith Other appearances on the soundtrack include multiple songs by Smith himself.

"Save Room" is the first single from his sophomore album, Once Again which was released October 24, 2006.

Alexandre Rodrigues and Alice Braga from critically acclaimed film, City of God are featured in the video for his latest single "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)". There are also rumors that John Legend would work on Michael Jackson next album, sheduled for late 2007.

Legend's career began while he was still a college student in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was picked to play on Lauryn Hill's "Everything is Everything" (1998).