As we continue to celebrate Black History month during February, we’ve been showcasing and highlighting artists that have shaped popular culture and made an impact far beyond their respected craft. For this episode of #BlackExcellence​ iHeartRadio’s Jamar McNeil highlights just some of the reasons why John Legend is and example of #BlackExcellence​.

Legend started playing piano at age four and sang in his church choir at seven. His mother sang and directed the church choir, his Grandmother played the organ, his father was a drummer. John Legend WAS DESTINED to be a musical man. He was homeschooled but was so smart academically that he skipped 2 grades!  As a young kid in Ohio he earned some awesome opportunities. He got into Georgetown, Harvard and eventually went to U Penn where he was a member of the popular a cappella group The Counterparts. Where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English and African American Lit. Once he started getting recognized as an artist to look out for, he was introduced to Lauryn Hill by a friend, and that's exactly who you hear playing the piano on her classic song Everything is Everything.

Another key Intro would send John Legend to the next level. Kanye West, who hired him to sing some hooks on some of Kanye’s early songs. It was at that time that the crew gave John his stage name LEGEND because of his voice. For such a new artist he had a distinct old school swag and sound. Like he was already a legend….John Legend. I clearly remember Kanye and John Legend coming to do small shows on the college circuit when I was in School in DC. I thought that the combination of Kanyes old school samples and Legends Old Soul Sound was INCREDIBLE and so authentic. It was amazing. That relationship became solidified when Kanye signed him as one of the founding members of his new Label GOOD Music.

The world now knew of the power of the voice of John Legend.  In 2008 you may remember when he  Sang for former President Obama’s campaign song produced by Wil I Am - Yes We Can. He did a pop produced by Andre 3000 of OutKast, Green Light which joined Ordinary People as his one of his highest charting singles but then he really expanded.
He is one of 16 people, and the first Black man, to achieve EGOT status – winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards.

In addition to numerous acts of service through philanthropic work, Legend has been outspoken on a number of social justice issues. HIV AIDS/AntiRacism/Women's Education Heath and Justice

He has spent five seasons as a coach on The Voice, where he had the Season 16 winning singer, in 2019.

And his No. 1 hit was 2013’s “All of Me,” a ballad about his wife Chrissy Teigen is a radio and WEDDING CLASSIC HIT or LEGENDARY track. Black History has truly been enrich by the legendary career of John Legend, Black Excellence.

Check back for more #BlackExcellence​​​ episodes throughout #BlackHistoryMonth​​​

CREDITS:
Research By Jamar McNeil, John R. Kennedy