It's John Legend's birthday!
John broke into the business in a big way, when he was introduced to Lauryn Hill by a friend. Hill hired him to play piano on "Everything Is Everything", which became a hit from the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
He released two albums independently: John Legend in 2000, and Live at Jimmy's Uptown in 2001. He would be introduced to Kanye West, and was hired to sing on West's music, after Kanye signed to GOOD Music.
Legend's debut album, Get Lifted, debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, and was certified gold. It won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and produced four singles, including "Used to Love U", and "Ordinary People" which peaked at 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Legend also co-wrote Janet Jackson's "I Want You", which was certified platinum, making him a highly sought after collaborator, Legend was featured on albums by Fort Minor, Sérgio Mendes, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, the Black Eyed Peas, Stephen Colbert, Rich Boy, MSTRKRFT, Chemistry, and Fergie.
In 2006, Legend's second album, Once Again, saw him reteaming with West and will.i.am, and reached number three on the Billboard 200, and certified platinum. At the 2007 Grammy Awards ceremony, the song "Heaven" won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The single "Save Room" received a Grammy nod, and he won a second Grammy for "Family Affair".
In 2008, Legend sang in a video for Barack Obama, called "Yes We Can", and in October, he released his third studio album, Evolver. The album was preceded by "Green Light" which featured Andre 3000 and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
In 2009, Legend joined the Roots on a collaborative album, Wake Up!, and the first single "Wake Up Everybody" featured Melanie Fiona and Common. Legend won three Grammy's for Best R&B Song for "Shine", and Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Hang On in There".
He released his fourth album, Love in the Future, in 2013, debuting number 4 and nominated for Best R&B album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. The album, "All of Me", hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, becoming one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. Legend, then partnered with Common again to write the song "Glory", featured in the film Selma, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song as well as the Academy Award for Best Original Song. He would feature on Meghan Trainor's "Like I'm Gonna Lose You", which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
Legend's career has lived up to his name and on this day his birthday he can smile on a great career and life.