CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Feeling pretty cool.
That’s the takeaway John Legend provided audiences on Sunday, Sept. 22, at a packed Blossom Music Center.
More than six weeks ago, the EGOT winner had a show with the Cleveland Orchestra cut short due to a lightning storm. The popular singer returned on Sunday — sans his acclaimed backing musicians — for “An Evening with John Legend” at the same scenic venue.
“Are we going to talk about what happened last time?,” said a dapper Legend, dressed in a black suit. “We don’t have to talk about it. Let’s just move on and pray. I will say, I’ve been looking at the weather forecast all week. And it was perfectly fine until today.
“We’re going to make it through this show tonight, I believe. We’re going to reflect, we’re going to go back in time, back to the beginning.”
This time, the rain held up, sort of, allowing the singer to present the picture-filled musical story of his life.
While not musically punctuated by a world-class orchestra, his national touring “An Evening with John Legend” show exceeded expectations.
“I want to go back to the very beginning, that means going back to church,” he said.
“I was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio. I’m proud to be from Springfield, Ohio.”
Buckeye state love aside, the audience seemed to eagerly applaud his hometown, which since he was last in Northeast Ohio became embroiled in political controversy.
In typical Legend fashion, he took the high road at the concert, never directly addressing the topic, though he has taken a stand and made his opinions known on his Instagram page.
However, there were moments throughout the evening where the 12-time Grammy Award-winner — inspired by the Civil Rights movement and those folks who fight for “justice, equality and stood for something” — spoke his mind.
This included talking about the inspiration and intention behind the Academy Award-winning song “Glory,” which he co-wrote with Common for the 2014 film “Selma,” as well as his solo track “Wonder Woman.”
The latter, from his 2022 album “Legend,” was inspired by an impressive Oprah Winfrey party he performed at highlighting the work of inspiring women.
The high-profile soiree’s guest list included everyone from Maya Angelou to Tina Turner.
“Perhaps we should elect a Wonder Woman to be president of the United States,” he said to loud applause before performing the song accompanied by a vinyl instrumental backing track played from a turntable.
Highlights of the more than two-hour, roughly two-dozen-song-and-snippet performance included covers of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon In The Sky.”
The talented pianist and soulful singer, who often punctuated moments with a smooth falsetto, also delved into his rich catalog for jazzy renditions of “Green Light,” “Stay With You” and “Ordinary People.”
The surprise of the night came when Legend invited his singing family members to perform his deep cut “It Don’t Have to Change.”
In fact, the Stephens Family actually appear on the gospel-powered tune from his 2004 debut effort, “Get Lifted.”
This was followed by singing “Happy Birthday” to his father, Ronald, who celebrated his 75th birthday in style.
“That was pretty cool,” Legend said.
The evening ended with the singer taking a moment — pensive piano keys keeping the music going as rain gently fell — to crystalize his journey while inspiring the audience to find their own.
“Quincy Jones once said that the definition of being cool is being able to be yourself no matter where you are,” he said.
“To be so cool, you don’t have to wear a mask. That kind of cool requires a degree of confidence.”
Legend then admitted for the longest time he felt as though he lived a double life.
“An outsider looking in as a working-class kid at an elite university,” he said. “A nerd in a room full of hip-hop musicians. Born John Stephens and becoming John Legend, it’s been a journey to go from those humble beginnings in Springfield, Ohio to being here in this big, beautiful venue with all of you tonight.
“And I wouldn’t change a thing. Tonight, here in Cuyahoga Falls, I feel pretty cool. Thank you.”
