8:00pm | 1 Theatre Dr. (Forest Park) | All ages | $75–300
St. Louis will witness a collision of legends on September 7th as acclaimed musician John Legend brings his talents to The Muny for a night of celebration and storytelling backed by our illustrious St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. With innumerable accolades, Legend lives up to his name, claiming his spot in the record books as one of fifteen artists ever earning a spot in the EGOT club, securing an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. The singer is a fellow Midwesterner, hailing from Springfield, Ohio, where he spent his early years before attending college at the University of Pennsylvania at just 16 years old. Legend chose to study English at his university while remaining well known in the music scene, serving as president of an acapella group (get this man a cameo in Pitch Perfect 4!) on campus and eventually meeting musician Lauryn Hill, who hired Legend for work on her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
In 2001, Legend was introduced to Kanye West, who was at the time just beginning his career, ultimately signing to West’s label. 2004 saw Legend release his first album, Get Lifted, which debuted at seven on the Billboard Top 200, ultimately certifying gold in the United States and winning Legend his first Grammy for Best R&B Album. Once Again was the singer’s next album, dropping in 2006, and peaking at number three on the Billboard Top 200, certifying gold in several countries, and winning Legend another round on the Grammy circuit with a win for Best R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal.
Since 2006, Legend has gone on to release eight more full length albums, as well as several live albums, two video albums, and three EPs. His reach is widespread, working with notable artists such as Alicia Keys, Rihanna, and Mary J. Blige. This Friday, Legend will release his tenth full length album, My Favorite Dream, produced by indie folk powerhouse Sufjan Stevens.
Legend is returning to touring this summer after a Las Vegas residency last year, and St. Louis was lucky enough to secure a spot on the roster. The once-in-a-lifetime experience will be held at The Muny, offering a more intimate setting than an arena for those in attendance to spend a night hearing stories of Legends success and witnessing his music accompanied by the St. Louis Orchestra. Few tickets remain for the event which is sure to sell out, so if you’ve been waiting for a sign to snag your spot—here it is! Tickets can be purchased here, with proceeds keeping one of the oldest outdoor theaters in the country going for many years to come. | Erica Vining
John Legend on tour:
08.31– 09.1.24: The Black Radio Experience, Napa, CA
09.07.24: The Muny, St. Louis, MO With the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
09.09.24: Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA With the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
09.10.24: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH With the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
09.22.24: Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
10.06.24: Sentul International Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia
10.08.24: Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI
10.12.24: The Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL
10.13.24: Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL
