With the Playboy Jazz Festival having concluded this weekend, that can only mean one thing: The Hollywood Bowl season is starting. This year’s Opening Night at the Bowl features John Legend. The concert takes place on Saturday, June 15th.
Legend is an EGOT – someone who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. The Emmy came for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. The show was named Outstanding Variety Special (Live.)
He has ten Grammy Awards ranging from Best New Artist in 2006 to 2016’s Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Glory” from the film Selma. That song, co-written with Common, lead to his Oscar for Best Song.
When August Wilson’s play Jitney was revived on Broadway, Legend was one of the producers. That production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. (Truth be told, it was the first time for the play on Broadway, but since it had been performed elsewhere in New York, it was designated as a revival.)
Legend will be joined by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and members of YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.) Thomas Wilkins will be leading the evening from the podium. When I spoke with him last year he told me that “We go after them – they don’t go after us.”
Legend’s most recent album was last year’s A Legendary Christmas. I’m willing to wager he won’t be performing material from that album. Expect, instead, songs from his album Get Lifted, Once Again, Evolver, Love in the Future and Darkness and Light.
Earlier this year Legend released a new song, “Preach,” as a fundraiser for FREEAMERICA, an organization he helped initiate that is dedicated to ending mass incarceration in the United States.
Opening Night at the Bowl serves as a fundraiser for the LA Philharmonic’s education and community programs. The tour schedule on Legend’s website shows only two other concerts this year. So fans should know this is a rare opportunity to see Legend while at the same time contributing to the culture well-being of our community.
And hey, you also get fireworks.
For tickets go here.
Photo of John Legend courtesy of LA Philharmonic Association.