John Legend has not at all times been recognized by the well-known moniker; as an alternative, he glided by his start identify till combating a porn producer to change into a Legend.
The All of Me hitmaker, 46, featured on the primary episode of Amazon Studios’ World+Music, discussing his profession and the way he adopted his stage identify.
When his profession started, Legend initially glided by his start identify, John Roger Stephens, earlier than engaged on Kanye West’s debut album, The School Dropout, in 2004.
He was found by spoken-word artist J. Iby, who was ‘impressed’ by his work on the critically acclaimed album, dubbing him a legend.
‘Now J. heard me singing, enjoying, and doing all I used to be doing on these School Dropout tracks, and he was impressed,’ he recalled.
‘He stated, “Man, we’re gonna should name you the legend.”‘
Quickly after, West and different frequent collaborators have been calling him John Legend, so he needed to determine whether or not he was going to imagine the stage identify.
‘Now a part of me is saying, “The way you going to name your self Legend? You don’t actually have a document deal but,”‘ he mused, ultimately deciding to go for it.
‘It’s going to make folks concentrate, after which I simply acquired to go reside as much as it,’ he stated.
Nevertheless, there was a catch – a porn producer was already going by the identify Johnny Legend, because the musician’s lawyer knowledgeable him.
‘Lo and behold, there’s a porn producer—I child you not—a porn producer who dabbled in rockabilly music, and he glided by the identify Johnny Legend,’ he stated.
‘The truth that he made music, rockabilly music, and his identify was Johnny Legend, meant that there was a attainable trademark infringement case.
‘We needed to discover Johnny Legend, negotiate with him, reduce a mutually unique deal stating that he was Johnny Legend, and I used to be John Legend.
‘He wouldn’t sue me. I wouldn’t sue him. He wouldn’t attempt to get into the soul music enterprise pretending to be John Legend. And I’m comfortable to clarify that I stored my aspect of the settlement. I didn’t produce any porn, didn’t make any rockabilly music pretending to be Johnny Legend.’
Legend went on to signal with Columbia Information in 2004 as John Legend, and the remaining is historical past.
The musician has received 12 Grammy Awards all through his profession and, for his position in NBC’s adaptation of rock opera Jesus Christ Celebrity, he turned the primary Black male and second youngest recipient of an EGOT – profitable an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
He has additionally moved into tv, working as a vocal coach on The Voice since 2019.
Bought a narrative?
In case you’ve acquired a star story, video or footage get in contact with the Metro.co.uk leisure group by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff web page – we’d love to listen to from you.
MORE: Jessie J reveals ex Channing Tatum’s response to being talked about on new album
MORE: Dick Van Dyke, 99, shares secret to 46-year age hole relationship with spouse Arlene
MORE: Jessie J fires again at claims she branded Channing Tatum a ‘beast’ in scathing lyrics
