When John Roger Stephens sat down at his first piano at four, he began a love affair that would last a lifetime. Twenty years later, he changed his last name to “Legend.”
Little did he know that he would actually become one.
Despite being rejected by every major record label along the East and West coasts over almost 10 years, John Legend persisted, believing he had what it took to become a star.
And, fortunately, he was right. Legend proved he has exactly what it takes when he stopped at the Tennessee Theatre on Saturday night for the southeastern leg of his “All of Me” tour, promoting music from his fourth studio album.
“You have to take all those no’s until you hear one yes, and eventually you will get where you want to go,” Legend said during the concert.
With his sensual, captivating musicianship and boyish charm, Legend wooed and satiated his sold-out crowd with ease and abandon.
“I want this show to feel like I’m just having y’all over in my living room,” Legend said.
And, surprisingly, it did. The lighting was warm, simple and inviting, highlighting the casual feel of the evening. Additionally, eight lucky patrons had the honor of actually sitting on stage, watching the show from the four plush couches situated right behind Legend’s Yamaha grand piano.
Accompanying Legend were only five other musicians—a small string ensemble and a guitarist. A few times throughout the show, Legend even asked for song requests from the audience.
In addition to his ability to enchant a crowd, Legend is a truly gifted musician. As he deftly played through his classics, “Ordinary People” and “Stay With You,” he never missed a note, managing to make the songs sound better live than they do recorded.
Much of the concert featured only Legend and his piano and, while that could possibly get boring with another musician, Legend’s passion, wit and talent maintained a steady fervor of entertainment for more than two hours, leaving the audience eager for more.
The most notable moment of the evening, however, stemmed from Legend’s spiritual roots. Learning to play piano from his grandmother, Legend’s early musical experiences were in the church where his mother and two grandmothers served in various musical faculties. Drawing from this background, Legend whipped the crowd into an emotional frenzy with his spiritual adaptation of Simon and Garfunkel’s, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which received a standing ovation.
In the golden age of auto-tune, it is rare to find a musician that is as genuinely talented on a live stage as he is in a studio. John Legend is truly an exception. To his fans’ delight, Legend put on a show that was not only musically exceptional, but reminiscent of a simpler time when musicians were passionate about honing their craft.
Surrounded by the historic walls of the Tennessee Theatre, Saturday’s concert was simply vintage. And as his name suggests, John Legend is well on his way to becoming a legend.
