Legend says that his musical influences stem from gospel, R&B, and Hip hop, which have all contributed to his unique sound. He was also fond of watching Michael Jackson on TV as a young boy, and figured that he could do the same as the pop star he admired.

Although his first love was music, Legend did not neglect his school work. He graduated from Springfield North High School at the age of sixteen, where he was Salutatorian and prom king. After high school, Legend attended the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in English with an emphasis in African American literature.

Following college, Legend did not immediately break into the music business. Instead he went to work for the Boston Consulting Group, which caused him to travel quite a bit between Boston and New York City. Simultaneously, Legend began performing as an independent artist in nightclubs throughout New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.

It was his former roommate at Penn, Devon Harris, who introduced Legend to his cousin and fellow musician, Kanye West. That proved to be a lucrative meeting for both parties involved, and since that day Legend and West have worked closely together. Legend was then signed to West’s label, G.O.O.D. Music, and began singing back up on West’s demo tapes and his debut album. When it was time for Legend to produce his own demo, West provided the rhythm tracks.

Legend’s debut album, Get Lifted, was released in 2004 and it quickly became a hit, especially in the UK. The album was produced by Kanye West and featured collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Slum Village. His single, "Ordinary People," reached the top 30 on both the U.S. and UK charts. His other successful singles were "Selfish" and "Used to Love U."

Before coming out with his own album, Legend became a collaborator for many successful R&B and Hip hop acts. Legend played the piano on Lauryn Hill’s single "Everything is Everything." He also contributed background vocals for Jay-Z’s track, "Encore," Alicia Keys’, "You Don’t Know My Name," and Fort Minor’s single, "High Road." Legend also collaborated with the Black Eyed Peas on their single, "Like That Ordinary People," written by Legend, for their album.

Following the release of his debut album, Legend is continuing to collaborate with artists from the G.O.O.D. Music label, including Common. He also recorded the song "Refuge" for the soundtrack of Second Chance, starring Michael W. Smith. Some of his notable performances thus far include the pre-game show at Super Bowl XL and his performance at the halftime show for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.

Legend's second album, Once Again, was released in October of 2006, and features the singles "Save Room," "Heaven," and "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)." The album has reached #3 on the U.S. charts and #10 in the U.K.

YUDDY