John Legend Puts Finishing Touches on Avidly Awaited New Studio Album 'Evolver' to be Released on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

John Legend Puts Finishing Touches on Avidly Awaited New Studio Album 'Evolver' to be Released on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Grammy-Winning Platinum Recording Artist's New Album Includes Tracks with Guest Artists Kanye West, Estelle, Andre 3000 & More

NEW YORK, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Grammy-winning recording artist and concert performer John Legend is putting the finishing touches on Evolver, his first full-length studio album since the release of his #1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart-topping platinum-selling Once Again in October 2006. One of the year's most eagerly-awaited new album releases, Evolver will be available online and in stores on Tuesday, October 28.

Earlier this month, Legend premiered "Green Light" featuring Andre 3000, the first single from Evolver, on his MySpace page (www.myspace.com/johnlegend), where John has enjoyed more than 8 million profile views and his musical tracks have racked up more than 14 million total plays.

John Legend gave his New York area fans their first taste of the new songs on Evolver at an exclusive "Unplugged 2008" concert at Manhattan's Highline Ballroom on Friday, July 25. For more details, please visit www.johnlegendnetwork.com.

In addition to OutKast's Andre 3000, John's guests on Evolver include the emerging UK hip-hop artist Estelle and longtime collaborator Kanye West.

Songs on Evolver include "Green Light," "It's Over" (Teddy Riley Mix), "Everybody Knows," "No Other Love," "Satisfaction," "This Time," "Cross The Line," "I Love You Love," "Good Morning," and "If You're Out There."

In 2004, John Legend -- then known primarily as an in-demand all-star studio session man -- stepped into the solo spotlight as a premier singer-songwriter-pianist-performer in his own right with his debut album Get Lifted, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and became a #1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop album in January 2005. Showcasing the hit singles "Ordinary People" and "Used To Love U," Get Lifted was a critical and commercial triumph, earning John an astounding eight Grammy nominations -- he won Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Ordinary People") and Best R&B album -- while selling more than three million copies worldwide.

Released on October 24, 2006, John's second collection, Once Again, entered the Billboard Top 200 at #3. The album, which peaked at #1 on the R&B Album Sales chart, quickly achieved RIAA platinum certification and earned John two Grammy nominations: "Save Room" (for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) and "Heaven" (which won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance).

John Legend racked up a third Grammy nomination and his fifth overall career Grammy win in 2006 when "Heaven" "Family Affair" -- a track he'd cut with Joss Stone and Van Hunt for Different Strokes by Different Folks, a Sly & the Family Stone tribute album (Epic/Legacy) -- took home top honors in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category.

His last release, Live From Philadelphia, available as a CD or a CD/DVD combination, captured the on-stage artistry, magic and chemistry which electrified audiences lucky enough to catch a concert on John's critically-acclaimed SRO 2007 world concert series, "The Show Me Tour."

In 2007, John Legend launched the Show Me Campaign (ShowMeCampaign.org), a grassroots movement whose mission is "to fight economic and spiritual poverty through fostering sustainable development (personal, social, educational, economic) at the individual, family, and small community levels."

www.johnlegend.com
www.myspace.com/johnlegend
www.johnlegendnetwork.com

www.showmecampaign.org

www.columbiarecords.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: G.O.O.D., Columbia Records

CONTACT: Yvette Noel-Schure of Columbia Records, +1-212-833-4483,
Yvette.Noel-Schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.johnlegend.com/
http://www.myspace.com/johnlegend
http://www.johnlegendnetwork.com/
http://showmecampaign.org/

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