VAUGHN ANTHONY

Intermission

INDIA.ARIE

Intermission

JOHN LEGEND
EUGENE “MAN MAN” ROBERTS, Musical Director and Keyboards
SHON HINTON, Guitar
ALLEN ARTHUR, Saxophone
STEVE TIRPAK, Trumpet
CLAYTON REILLY, Trombone
JESSYCA WILSON, Background Vocals
ASHLEY SIMPSON, Background Vocals
LACEY JONES, Background Vocals
KENNETH WRIGHT, Bass
RASHID WILLIAMS, Drums

Named one of Time Magazine’s most influential people in the world.

JOHN LEGEND

Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, John Legend (born John Stephens) began playing piano at age 4, was singing in his church choir by the age of 7 and blossomed into a choir director in his teens. He began to work his way into the Philadelphia music scene while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in English. Kanye West gave Legend his first big break when he signed the artist to his G.O.O.D. Music production company in 2004. Legend’s debut, Get Lifted, opened at number seven on the Billboard Top 200 sales chart and turned the singer into an overnight sensation. The album quickly became a success, selling more than three million copies and earning Legend a slew of awards (including Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B album). His critically acclaimed 2006 follow-up, Once Again, secured his place in the soul music pantheon. Entering the Billboard Top 200 at number three, the album quickly went platinum and won Legend several more awards, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance for the single “Heaven.” That same year he was awarded another Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the single “Family Affair.” He continues to push himself, always striving to break new musical ground; he does that and more on his most recent album, Evolver. In 2007 Legend and his team launched the Show Me Campaign, whose mission is to fight poverty through fostering sustainable development. He was honored with the 2008 Humanitarian Award from CARE and the 2008 Difference Award from OneXOne. Tonight marks John Legend’s Ravinia Festival debut.

INDIA.ARIE

From the moment that India.Arie’s first single, “Video,” and her multiplatinum debut album, Acoustic Soul, were released in 2001, her music established an extraordinary bond of trust, affection and communication with her followers. Her 2002 platinum-selling Voyage to India was hailed worldwide by critics. Her 2006 number-one charting Testimony: Vol.1, Love & Relationship is a collection of songs treasured by fans for its intimate, heart-tugging portrait of a lover’s parting and its after-ache. Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, her fourth studio album, is, as always, a searching, insightful, honest and creatively accomplished expression of inner emotions and the interconnectedness of us all. Arie has sold over eight million albums worldwide, and her songs have appeared in such films as Sex and the City, The Secret Life of Bees, A Soldier’s Story, Radio, A Shark’s Tale and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Although they’ve been understated, the politics of Arie’s music have been on open display ever since Oprah Winfrey thanked her for writing the sentiment “I may not be built like a supermodel/But I’ve learned to love myself unconditionally.” As a United States ambassador for UNICEF, Arie traveled to Africa several times to address the AIDS crisis and filmed the VH-1 documentary Tracking the Monster: Ashley Judd & India.Arie Confront AIDS in Africa. Among her honors are 17 Grammy nominations, two Grammy Awards, four NAACP Image Awards and various awards from BET, Billboard, MTV, VH-1, Vogue, Essence and others. Arie launched her own label, Soulbird Music, in June 2008 through Universal Republic with the release of singer/songwriter Anthony David’s album Acey Deucy and the Grammy-nominated single “Words,” a duet with Arie. Tonight marks India.Arie’s Ravinia Festival debut.

VAUGHN ANTHONY

Vaughn Anthony, born Vaughn Stephens, hails from Springfield, Ohio. Fortunate to be born into a musical family, he was allowed to show off his singing skills at church and family gatherings. He completed a few semesters at Clark State Community College, originally enrolling on a full basketball scholarship, but family obligations forced him to leave school. Anthony went to work full time, taking mostly physical jobs such as factory work to make ends meet. A few years ago he figured there was a better way to earn a living, and he set his sights on a dream that he once considered a long shot: a career in music. While he admits he’s going for an R&B feel, he prefers not to label his music. Of late he has put his voice to the ultimate test by singing backup during a world tour with John Legend, his older brother. Anthony recently signed to Legend’s label, Homeschool Records, and his debut album was released in 2008. When asked what distinguishes him from the plethora of male R&B singers out there, Anthony says, “I think I have a fresh, new sound, not like anyone else who’s current right now. I’m just me. I don’t listen to much current music, so I’m not trying to pick up on what other people are doing.” His yet-to-be-conquered goals include acting and giving back to the world community through philanthropic efforts, but for now he is keeping it simple: “I just want to make good quality music—good albums, and not just singles—stuff you can listen to from track one to 16.” Tonight marks Vaughn Anthony’s Ravinia Festival debut.