His debut album, 2004’s Get Lifted, sold 3m copies worldwide, and its lead single, Ordinary People, was everywhere for most of the mid-aughts. Legend has now released seven celebrated albums over the course of his career to date and the volume of record sales and streams is staggering. Few artists are so broadly popular, and his 2013 release, All of Me, written for his fiancée, now wife Chrissy Teigen, has been played on Spotify more than 1bn times.
His fluid, rich keyboard harmonies and instantly warming, melodious baritone has garnered an EGOT studded career (with 11 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award, among many others), yet he’s also a coach on The Voice, occasionally presents Ellen DeGeneres’ TV show and co-runs the Get Lifted Film Co, producing a string of acclaimed features and docu-series.
As if that wasn’t enough, Legend has dared to put his head above the parapet by championing social justice in the US for many years, taking former presidents to task on a string of issues, from prison reform to education and childcare. He’s travelled a long road from performing under his given name, John Stephens, in tiny jazz clubs throughout Philadelphia and New York, to gaining attention with backing vocals for Kanye and ultimately becoming a household name.
It's going to be a Summer Series Saturday night to remember. Join us for a celebration of love, joy, sensuality, hope and sweet music from a legend.
