Sat 11/16 @ 8PM
It seems like contemporary audiences can’t get enough of sweet soul music.
While hip-hop influenced R&B took over much of the spotlight in the ’90s, it’s returned full blaze to artists like Springfield, Ohio’s John Legend who root themselves in lavishly melodic, romantic old-school R&B.
Legend’s roots in gospel, jazz, and pop blend to create a sound that cuts across age and genre preference barriers, although oddly, Kanye West was one of his earliest mentors. Since he released his debut, Get Lifted, in 2004, he’s earned floods of acclaim from critics and the industry, snagging nine Grammys.
On the side, he’s appeared on Sesame Street and Dancing With the Stars, and been active in charitable and political causes, including women’s rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, relief to New Orleans following Katrina and Haiti after the earthquake, and President Obama’s election.
He’ll be at PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre on the heels of his new release Love in the Future. Tamar Braxton, younger sister of Toni, opens.
Tickets are $38.50-$86.