John Legend negotiated with porn producer to get…
A legendary story.
During the first episode of Amazon Studios’ new collection “Words+Music,” John Legend recalled how he made a deal with porn producer Johnny Legend to go by his iconic stage identify.
The 46-year-old singer was born John Stephens, but he determined to turn into John Legend while he and Kanye West have been working with spoken-word artist and songwriter J. Ivy on West’s 2004 debut album, “The College Dropout.”
John Legend in “Words+Music” on MGM+. MGM+
Johnny Legend attends Son Of Monsterpalooza held at Burbank Marriott Airport Hotel and Convention Center in October 2012. Getty Images
“Now J. heard me singing, playing and doing all I was doing on those ‘College Dropout’ tracks, and he was impressed,” Legend recalled on the show, which premiered Sunday on MGM+.
“He said, ‘Man, we’re gonna have to call you the legend.’”
John Legend speaks onstage during the One Drop Gala Los Angeles on Nov. 18. Getty Images for One Drop Foundation
Legend, who was an unknown artist at the time, continued, “So I had to decide whether or not I was going to assume this stage name. Now part of me is saying, ‘How you going to call yourself Legend? You don’t even have a record deal yet.’”
The “All of Me” singer finally determined to transfer ahead with the identify change “to make people pay attention” — but his plans hit a snag when his lawyer informed him he had to trademark the identify before he might formally use it.
“And lo and behold,” Legend said, “there’s a porn producer—I kid you not—a porn producer who dabbled in rockabilly music, and he went by the name Johnny Legend.”
Johnny Legend at an autograph get together in Burbank, Calif. in August 2007. Getty Images
“The fact that he made music, rockabilly music, and his name was Johnny Legend, meant that there was a possible trademark infringement case,” Legend added.
The EGOT winner explained that his legal group had to attain out to now-77-year-old Johnny Legend, whose real identify is Martin Margulies, so he might turn into John Legend.
John Legend performs during the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s The Albies in London on Oct. 3. Getty Images for The Clooney Foundation For Justice
Johnny Legend indicators an autograph for a fan in August 2007. Getty Images
Johnny Legend during Drive-InVasion 2006 at Starlight Six Drive-In Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. WireImage
“We had to find Johnny Legend, negotiate with him, cut a mutually exclusive deal stating that he was Johnny Legend, and I was John Legend,” the daddy of 4 remembered. “He wouldn’t sue me. I wouldn’t sue him. He wouldn’t try to get into the soul music business pretending to be John Legend.”
“And I’m happy to make clear that I kept my side of the agreement,” Legend acknowledged. “I didn’t produce any porn, didn’t make any rockabilly music pretending to be Johnny Legend.”
John Legend seen in new York City on October 7. GC Images
John Legend with his spouse Chrissy Teigen attend Breakthrough T1D, Los Angeles Gala, One Night Under The Stars on October 25. Getty Images for Breakthrough T1D
Under his stage identify, Legend signed with West’s document label, GOOD Music, in May 2004 and launched his debut album, “Get Lifted,” on his twenty sixth birthday that December.
“And you know what? It really did feel like a new birth,” Legend said.
“Word+Music” will continue with episodes targeted on Sheryl Crow (Dec. 7), Elvis Costello (Dec. 14) and Alanis Morissette (Dec. 21)
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