John Legend Writing for Whitney, J-Hud, Aretha

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno

      With Grammy wins comes more gigs and John Legend is reaping all the benefits. Legend has recently been in the studio working on upcoming projects with Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson and even Aretha Franklin.

      "It’s different for her – a party song called `Turn It Up.’ It’s kind of soulful and funky," Legend told the L.A. Daily News about his song with Franklin. "I do a little cameo in there, but it’s really her song."

      He’s also working non-stop with Estelle, the first artist on his recently launched label, Home School. But the most important thing he’s gearing up for is his recently announced spring tour.

      "We’ve got some cool new things we’re doing – new arrangements, unexpected covers,” Legend said about the show. “We’re bringing in some hip-hop, some classic soul and classic rock. We’ve elevated the production on every level for this tour, musically and visually – but it’s still going to be about the music. I never want to turn it into a high-tech show. What people appreciate about me is that there is an organic feel about the music."

Here are the tour dates:

04/03/07  Irvine, CA Bren Events Center

04/04/07  San Diego, CA Bayside

04/06/07  Universal City, CA Gibson Amph. At Univ. CityWalk

04/07/07  Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre

04/10/07  Denver, CO Colorado Convention Center

04/12/07  Minneapolis, MN The Orpheum Theatre

04/13/07  Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

04/14/07  Detroit, MI Fox Theatre

04/16/07  Akron, OH Akron Civic Theatre

04/17/07  Toronto, ON Hummingbird Centre For Perf. Arts

04/19/07  Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre

04/20/07  Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom

04/22/07  Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center

04/23/07  New York, NY Theater at Madison Square Garden

04/25/07  Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun

04/26/07  Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre

04/28/07  Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

04/29/07  Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall Theatre

05/01/07  Orlando, FL Hard Rock Cafe / Hard Rock Live

05/02/07  Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Casino

05/04/07  Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre