In March of 2005, the featured artist for Alicia Keys’ “Diary” Tour at The Fox was a relatively unknown R&B singer/songwriter with the audacity to call himself John Legend. The moment he opened his mouth and his hands danced across the piano, my first thoughts were “He’s not a legend yet, but he’s about to be one,” and “He will not have this job for very long…not very long at all.”
Nearly 20 years after he introduced himself to St. Louis audiences by stealing that show, Legend is gearing up to return as a megastar for a special performance with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on one of the city’s most iconic stages. “Been a minute since I was in St. Louis,” Legend said via Instagram. “Looking forward to being back alongside the St. Louis Symphony at The Muny.” “John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra” will take place at 8pm on Saturday, September 7. “
His performance with SLSO will mark the first live concert on the Muny stage in more than 30 years. Some of the biggest names in music have graced the Muny stage – including Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow, Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers. The last live concert to play the Muny was The Moody Blues and Kansas, who played in August of 1991.
“We have been eager but deliberate in recent years about finding the right opportunity to bring live concerts back to The Muny,” said Muny President & CEO Kwofe Coleman. “And the alignment of John Legend with one of the best orchestras in the world feels like the perfect opening for this next chapter.”
Though Legend has been back to St. Louis plenty of times since that fateful show in 2005, his upcoming Muny performance with SLSO has the feel of a full circle moment.
He had a moderate radio hit with his single “Used to Love U” when he set the stage on fire instead of warming it up for Keys. He also had a debut studio album co-signed by then hip-hop “it boy” Kanye West – who was Legend’s manager at the time. “Get Lifted” belongs in the conversation of the best R&B/Soul debut albums, especially when one considers the period of the album’s release.
Legend emerged at a peculiar time for R&B music. It was right at the crossroads of when “neo soul” gave way to the dance/club banger era that hit mainstream popular music like a sledgehammer – thanks to stars like Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Rihanna and, of course, Beyonce.
So many talented artists were lost in that transition period, but two weeks after Legend played the Fox in 2005 his album’s second single “Ordinary People” was released. The song sent Legend into the stratosphere and served as a reminder that masterful, relatable songwriting can transcend trends and genres. The song allowed Legend to receive the attention he deserved. Ironically the spotlight on the song overshadowed the genius of the album in its entirety. Even still “Get Lifted” earned Legend three Grammy Awards in 2006. There was the highly coveted “Best New Artist,” as well as “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance” and “Best R&B Album.”
When he returned to The Fox in 2009 as a headliner, he had doubled his Grammy count – including a back-to-back “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance” win. “As someone who loves all types of music, I don’t feel like staying in the same place,” Legend told The American ahead of the St. Louis stop of his “Evolver” tour. “I’m a person who likes to explore – it feels fun and exciting to grow with each album.”
Legend grew beyond music to become a successful producer of film, television, theater and publishing through Get Lifted Film Co. The 2016 WGN Network historical drama “Underground” and the acclaimed one-man show “Turn Me Loose” that starred Joe Morton that highlighted the life and legacy of comedian, activist and St. Louisan Dick Gregory. Get Lifted co-produced the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” and when the play took home the “Best Revival of a Play” Tony Award in 2018, Legend became the first Black man to achieve EGOT status –an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner – and one of the youngest artists to do so. Legend is also an accomplished actor and a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.”
When he takes the stage in two Saturdays with the St. Louis Symphony, he will be performing from an expansive catalog of greatest hits – as well as selections from his eighth studio album entitled “Legend.”
“We are thrilled to partner with The Muny and John Legend for this truly not-to-be-missed performance,” said St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Marie-Helene Bernard. “This concert highlights the best St. Louis has to offer – the remarkable talents of our musicians and one of the most celebrated musical theatre stages in the country.”
John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 7 at The Muny in Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org/johnlegend.