Legend's no ordinary person

What's in a name? For John Stephens, life could have been so different if his college classmates hadn't called him "Legend".

Speaking exclusively to tabloid! ahead of his first performance in Dubai at the Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival in February, the R&B star John Legend has a charmingly slow American drawl.

"My mates started calling me 'The Legend' at school and it just kind of stuck. When I started meeting the big shots, I said my name was John Legend without thinking — it sounded so much cooler. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't have made it if they knew my name was Stephens back then," Legend jokes.

And a legend he is, having worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry since he was 19 years old, including Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and Lauryn Hill.

Legend is now hitting the headlines with his own unique songs, a blossoming solo career — and thoughts about collaborating with Paris Hilton. "I bought her single Stars Are Blind and I thought it was a great song. It really should have done even better than it did. I'd do a song with her. It would be an interesting experience."

The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and acclaimed performer will hit the stage on February 26 as one of the headline acts for the jazz festival. He says he "cannot wait to feel the vibe from his fans in Dubai".

"I think a concert is like an exchange between the people on the stage and the people off it. The fans give to me and I give back to them. It makes the perfect balance and sets the tone for the show. "Everything in life is about an exchange and communication process and I think this is the same. It's the most amazing feeling when you realise the crowd is working from the energy you are providing and vice versa."

In 2004, Legend was hailed for his debut album, Get Lifted, and has gone from strength to strength since then, beating the second-album curse with the classic Once Again.

"When I look back I know, I was lucky — but saying that, I have still worked hard.

"At 19, I was introduced to Lauryn Hill through a friend, and ended up playing the piano on a few tracks for her album.

"In all honesty, I think I was more pleased about my 'bragging rights' than anything else at the time. My friends were so jealous and it felt great. Maybe I hadn't even thought about where it could all lead.

"If I look back at some of the opportunities I have had I know I am very lucky. A friend of mine introduced me to Snoop when I was young and he was already famous, and I played him a song I had written. We worked on it together and recorded it for ourselves. He loved it — it was called I Can Change."

Legend has sold more than five million albums worldwide, garnered multiple hit singles, including Ordinary People, Used to Love U, So High, Save Room, Heaven and Another Again. He has also received countless accolades, including five Grammy Awards.

"I have played in some wonderful venues from Johannesburg [South Africa] to Chicago [in the US] and all of them have different memories for me. No matter where you play in the world, there is always an excitement about getting a new bunch of fans whipped up and ready for a great gig.

"I am really looking forward to playing in Dubai and think we will have a great time. I am planning a show with lots of energy and a few surprises too."

With all of the acclaim, it would be easy for Legend to rest on his laurels, but he continues to push himself, always striving to break new musical ground. His latest album, Evolver, is Legend's first full-length studio album in two years. It was released on October 28.

"At university, I studied English because it seemed like such a versatile subject. I guess it was my back-up plan, but music was always number one for me. I played through school, college and university and was also a member of the church choir.

"Music was my life and still is."

Music's leading producers clamour to work with him and fashion aficionados cannot get enough of his incomparable style, but it is the humanitarian community which really came out on top, benefiting from his endless efforts to end poverty.

"I will always fight for people who are worse off than myself. I realise how lucky I am and think we should never forget those who need our help."

Did you know?

John's best

"The best bit about my job is being on stage and seeing the crowd go wild. It's an amazing feeling and nothing really comes close to it."

John's worst

"The worst part is dealing with the media. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with the press which can be hard sometimes. I have had many false statements printed about me and I find it difficult to swallow – but equally you have to stay strong and true to yourself and everything is always OK in the end."


Don't miss it!

The Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival runs from February 18-27, welcoming more than 30 performers from around the world to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.

The British singer James Blunt will also be performing at the festival. Tickets will be available online at boxofficeme.com from the beginning of December. For more details, visit dubaijazzfest.com or call Chillout Productions on 04 3911196.