John Legend

John Roger Stephens, known professionally as John Legend, born December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist who became the first African American man in history to achieve the EGOT — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards — and is one of the most broadly acclaimed and intellectually distinguished musicians in contemporary pop music. Growing up in Springfield, Ohio, in a deeply religious family where his grandmother played the organ at the local Baptist church and where singing was a central part of daily religious life, Legend was playing piano by age four and singing gospel in church from early childhood, developing the spiritual depth and emotional directness that would define his adult artistic style. He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania at age sixteen after graduating high school two years early as class valedictorian, studying English with an emphasis in African American literature while serving as president of the university's renowned a cappella choir. He began recording and performing in Philadelphia's music scene during college, connected with Kanye West through a friend after graduation, and spent several years recording demos and building a following while West used him on hip-hop tracks. His debut album Get Lifted (2004), produced with West and others, won three Grammy Awards including Best R&B Album and Best New Artist and produced the signature single Ordinary People. Once Again (2006), Evolver (2008), Wake Up! (2010), Love in the Future (2013), Darkness and Light (2016), A Legendary Christmas (2018), and Bigger Love (2020) continued his output. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Glory (2014) from the civil rights film Selma.