"His voice is... supple and bold, echoing the gliding, curving lines and impulsive dynamics of Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, the rasp of Otis Redding and the falsetto of Al Green." New York Times
Late last year Miami New Times wrote, "a breath of fresh air in the sea of monotony that is R&B...Legend provides a new standard for what Hip Hop/R&B is supposed to sound like,” while the Toronto Sun wrote "the biggest thing in R&B since Alicia Keys."
So is it all just hype, or is their something about this newcomer John Legend that will make his upcoming shows in Sydney and Melbourne the must-see concerts of May?
Well, as Billboard succinctly puts it; "in Legend’s case, believe the hype." John Legend is no overnight success story. His resume reads as the who’s who of the music industry, including session work with the likes of Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Eve, Common, the Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill and Kanye West.
Kanye West, who was instrumental in Legend’s career development, secured Legend a label deal with Columbia Records and acted as both executive producer and feature artist on his debut album Get Lifted (in stores now through Sony BMG Australia).
For this singer, songwriter, musician, arranger and producer, Kanye West's involvement was the end of a long, until then unfruitful, slog to be signed. And Legend has proven quickly that West's faith in his abilities was not misguided. Already the album has sold platinum in the US, remaining in the Top 10 of the Billboard Album Charts for nine weeks.
Legend, currently on a US tour with the ever gorgeous Alicia Keys, has been receiving reviews that are further proof that come this May, you want to be standing stage front at one of his gigs.
AZ Republic called him 'simply amazing... a true legend in the making...[he] had the crowd hollering for more...," while Dallas Morning News wrote, "from the moment Mr. Legend implored the crowd to Get Lifted," it became clear that the Kanye West protégé won't need that prefix before his name much longer."
Appearing as special guest on John Legend's Australian dates is our very own RnB sensation Jade MacRae, who stormed onto Australian airwaves with her singles You Make We Weak and So Hot Right Now.
Don't miss John Legend live this May in Sydney and Melbourne.
Tickets are on-sale Friday 22 April
