John Legend was born on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio. He became an in-demand session musician and songwriter, working with such artists as Alicia Keys, Twista and Janet Jackson. He was soon introduced to up-and-coming hip-hop artist Kanye West, and the two musicians collaborated on one another’s demos. Legend’s debut album, 2004’s Get Lifted, won three Grammy Awards, thanks in part to the hit single “Ordinary People.” After two more solo albums, he released his collaboration with the Roots, Wake Up!, in 2010. Legend also appeared on the TV competition Duets as a coach before dropping his next album, 2013’s Love in the Future.
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. He soon released several new albums, including Evolver (2008). 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.
2013 saw Legend releasing 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).” And 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 an Academy Award, with both artists using their Oscar acceptance speeches to highlight contemporary issues that connect to the Civil Rights Movement.
