Five-time Grammy winner John Legend is used to performing. He’s currently in the midst of a tour promoting his latest CD, ‘Evolver,’ and in October, he’ll sing at Northwestern University. Tonight in Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium, however, his music will share the spotlight with the personal philanthropic stories that he will share with students.

‘We’re really excited that we don’t just have him doing a performance,’ University Union Performing Arts Director Drew Sullivan said. ‘We get to see a unique side of John; get to know him a little better’

Sullivan estimated that 1,250 tickets have been sold for the show as of Tuesday night and about 250 are still available for purchase in the Schine Box Office today. Tickets are $10 for students with an SU I.D.

‘We were a little unsure of what to expect – he’s such a big name that there was a chance he was going to draw really well,’ Sullivan said. He did remark that the event’s promotion as Legend as a speaker, and not a performer, may have discouraged some students from buying tickets.

UU decided to organize an event that was less conventional than the usual concert events.

‘It’s not a college tour, it’s not a professionally promoted tour,’ UU President Darren Goldberg said, ‘It’s something that we approached him about and something that he wanted to do.’

Legend will encourage philanthropy among students by talking about his own efforts, ‘really hitting home, trying to cause awareness for what he does,’ Goldberg said.’He’ll talk about his own experiences, relating them to us as students and trying to makes us more aware of what’s going on.’

Among other things, Legend will discuss his Show Me Campaign. Named for one of his songs, it strives to raise money and awareness to end poverty, in addition to preventing cases of malaria and helping people to live with AIDS, particularly in Mbola, Tanzania.

Sullivan said he isn’t sure whether Legend will speak first, and then perform, or alternate between singing and talking.

‘I think he’s going to mix it up a little bit,’ Sullivan said, ‘and focus not really on a certain CD but on songs that tie with his message … sort of like a call to action since he’s talking about talking initiative.’

bmdavies@syr.edu

Published on September 22, 2009 at 12:00 pm