John Legend Talks About His Musical Influences and Wanting To Act

32-year old recording artist, John Legend defies his age with his rich soulful voice; he has often been referred as a young cat with an old soul. 

And it's not really surprising, when he explains his early influences:

"I grew up in gospel music so gospel music is kind of the immediate ancestor of soul music anyway so I think growing up in that kind of traditional, gospel church setting, the music that I grew up singing and playing already had this kind of old soul to it," Legend said.

Legend also began listening to the music his father played in the house.

"My dad loved Motown, loved Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Al Green and so when you grow up on a steady diet of gospel and some of those great solo artists I think you can't help but have a bit of an old soul when it comes to music," Legend said.

 

 

But that's about as much exposure young Legend would have with popular music.

"You know I didn't go to any big concerts when I was a kid. A few gospel concerts like the Winans and Commissioned but I didn't go to any R 'n' B concerts until a little bit later. I think the first artist I saw was Jodeci when I was a teenager when they were kind of at their zenith in the 90's."

Instead, Legend remembers watching musicians on television and dreaming he would do the same someday.

"When I was a kid I thought I could do it all," he admits.

"When I would see Michael Jackson on TV or I would see 'Star Search' I would think 'that should be me.'"

Speaking about doing it all, he wants to try acting too. He's already had a few small film roles, but thinks he'd like to try something a bit more substantial.

"I think I will do some acting. I've done a little bit. I was in a movie called 'Soul Men' with Sam Jackson and Bernie Mac. I've done a few other small things. I think it's more likely I would be involved in some bigger things in the near future," he said.

But it's not just acting that interests Legend, he also wants to get involved on the production side.

"Helping shepherd projects through that I think would be interesting and entertaining and that speak to my aesthetic. And then maybe I will act in some of those as well."

And, even though musical theater combines acting and singing - Legend is reluctant to star on Broadway.

"I've never been a big fan of most classical Broadway type musicals. The songs don't appeal to me in the same way that more soulful things appeal to me, or whatever. Everybody has their own preferences, but I've never been a huge Broadway guy. With that being said if I could do Broadway my way, do it in a way where the songwriting really my sensibility, then I could see myself doing it."

John Legend is currently touring with Sade, below are the remaining tour dates.

8/23   Cricket Amphitheater              San Diego, CA
8/25   HP Pavillion                            San Jose, CA
8/26   Oracle Arena                          Oakland, CA
8/27   Oracle Arena                          Oakland, CA
8/30   Honda Center                         Anaheim, CA
8/31   Honda Center                         Anaheim, CA
9/02   US Airways Center                  Phoenix, AX
9/03   MGM Grand Arena                   Las Vegas, NV
9/04   Citizens Business Bank Arena   Ontario, CA
9/07   Frank Erwin Center                 Austin, TX
9/09   KFC Yum! Center                    Louisville, KY
9/10   Greensboro Coliseum              Greensboro, NC
9/12   Scope Arena                           Norfolk, VA
9/17   The Fillmore Silver Spring        Silver Spring, MD

Source: Associated Press