R&B Artist John Legend to Perform in CFA

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present John Legend at 8 p.m. on Nov. 25 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Whether you call it "fate" or "destiny" or "a calling," the fact is that some people are born to sing and create music. The industry's latest "legend" -- John Legend, actually -- reveals that from the age of five or six, he expected to be 'discovered.' Music has been the central theme in the life of John Legend (born John Stephens) for as long as he can remember and now, some 20-odd years later, this multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, arranger and producer is fulfilling his childhood dreams and ambitions.

With 2004's "Get Lifted," his major label debut album on Columbia Records, Legend demonstrates a rare ability to fuse the "feel" and vibe of classic, old-school soul music with the edgy flavor of 21st-century hip-hop. While the romantic themes of traditional R&B permeate "Get Lifted," there's also a street-worthy hipness and confidence: the sensuality of Marvin Gaye and the sincerity of Stevie Wonder merging with the directness of Snoop Dogg and the wit of Kanye West. Yet, Legend is very much his own artist, gifted with singular talents and a unique sensibility.

Through his college roommate and collaborator Devo Harris, John met Kanye West (Harris's cousin), who was emerging as a hit-making producer for acts like Jay-Z and Scarface and an artist in his own right. By late 2002, John had begun working with Kanye more often, playing piano, singing and co-writing two tracks on the "College Dropout" album, while adding impressive credits to his ever-expanding resume: in 2003, Legend lent his vocal talent to "You Don't Know My Name," the lead single from the multi-platinum "Diary Of Alicia Keys" set, as well as co-writing, singing and playing on the West remix of "If I Ain't Got You" from the same album. His collaborations with West also include singing and playing piano on "Encore" and "Lucifer," tracks from Jay-Z's "The Black Album." Legend also was lead singer and co-writer of "The Boogie That B," from the Black Eyed Peas' "Elephunk" album.

Legend made a number of guest appearances on different projects recorded in 2003 and out in 2004: he played keyboards on "Overnight Celebrity" (from Twista's "Kamikaze" CD); sang, played and appeared in the video for Dilated Peoples' "This Way"; co-wrote and played on Janet Jackson's "I Want You"; co-wrote, played and sung on "I Try," the lead single featuring Mary J. Blige, from Talib Kweli's "Beautiful Struggle" album (which also features his work as lead vocalist and pianist on the track "Around My Way"). In addition to also singing lead on Slum Village's "Selfish," John played on sessions for Eve, Common and Britney Spears while still performing at clubs and making two more independently-produced live CDs, "Solo Sessions, Vol. 1: Live at The Knitting Factory" and "Live at SOB's."

By late 2003, Kanye West had signed the multi-faceted Legend as the first artist to his production company, KonMan Entertainment, and a deal with Columbia Records soon followed. After signing with the label, John began the task of sorting through the many songs he'd written over the years, finally narrowing it down to 40 tunes -- "in varying stages of development" -- and working with West on the dozen or so songs that would make up the album.

One listen to the soulful yet edgy "Get Lifted" and there's no question that Legend indeed delivers the real deal, living up to his name and beginning the next chapter in a career filled with promise and possibility.

Tickets for John Legend are $30, students $27. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.