John Legend is a nine-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, critically acclaimed concert performer and philanthropist/social activist, and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. Legend’s debut album, Get Lifted (2004), sold more than three million copies worldwide and earned eight Grammy nominations, with wins for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album.
Legend’s follow-up album, Once Again (2006), earned RIAA platinum certification and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Following the success of his third consecutive Top 10 album, Evolver (2008), Legend embarked on an extensive world tour with an eleven-piece band—his largest traveling show to date.
Inspired by the monumental 2008 presidential election, Legend teamed with The Roots to release the socially conscious album Wake Up! (2010). The album received five Grammy nominations and won Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for “Shine,” an original composition also featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s documentary Waiting for Superman. The project also received two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Album and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration.
In 2007, Legend launched the Show Me Campaign, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty around the world. He also served on the boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America and Harlem Village Academies. Legend has been honored for his activism with distinctions including the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year Award, the 2009 CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change and the 2009 Africare Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award.
In early 2012, Legend released the chart-topping hit “Tonight (Best You Ever Had),” featuring Ludacris, which remained atop the Urban AC radio chart for six consecutive weeks. At the time of this biography, Legend was working on Love in the Future, produced by Kanye West.
This biography and photograph were reproduced from the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Media Press Kit.