John Ledend is a five-time Grammy winner and multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and performer whose albums "Get Lifted" and "Once Again" and singles including "Ordinary People," "Used To Love U," "Save Room," and "Heaven" have secured his place as one of the most striking, vital and important American musical artists to emerge in the 21st century.
Legend who'd made his name primarily as an in-demand all-star studio session writer and musician whose credits included work with Lauryn Hill, Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Common and Kanye West among others stepped into the solo spotlight in 2004 as the first artist signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D.
Released on December 28, 2004, the artist's 26th birthday, Legend's debut album, "Get Lifted," had unexpected chart debuts at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, moving to #4 on the Top 200 the following week. He won Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "Ordinary People") and Best R&B album. "Get Lifted" went on to sell more than three million copies worldwide.
Legend took home Best New Artist at the BET Awards in 2005 and Soul Train Awards for Best R&B/Soul Album Male (for "Get Lifted") and Best R&B Soul Single Male (for "Ordinary People"). Additionally, he won MTV Japan's Influential Songwriter Award for "Ordinary People" and the UK MOBO Award for Best R&B Artist while being nominated for Best International Male Solo Artist and Best International Breakthrough Act at the 2006 Brit Awards.
Legend's second collection, "Once Again," extended the success and musical vision of "Get Lifted." Released on October 24, 2006, "Once Again" entered the Billboard Top 200 at #3, selling more than 231,000 copies in its first week. The album peaked at #1 on the R&B Album Sales chart, quickly achieved an RIAA platinum certification and earned Legend a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "Heaven"). Legend picked up his fifth Grammy that same year, for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (for "Family Affair," a track from Different Strokes by Different Folks, a Sly & the Family Stone tribute album). The Soul Train Awards honored John in 2007 with Best R&B/Soul Single Male award (for "Save Room"). He went on to also win the International Award at the UK Silver Clef Awards.
In 2007, inspired by reading "The End Of Poverty" by Columbia University Professor, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Legend traveled to Ghana in West Africa where he recognized "the real, tangible impact of extreme poverty on millions of people around the world." His response was to launch the Show Me Campaign (ShowMeCampaign.org), a grassroots movement whose mission is "to fight economic and spiritual poverty through fostering sustainable development (personal, social, educational, economic) at the individual, family, and small community levels." He supported the effort with an extensive tour.
Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, John Legend (nee John Stephens) began playing piano at the age of four, was singing in the church choir by age seven, and developed his musical talents during his childhood and teen years as a gospel pianist and choir director. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
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