John Legend to deliver MLK lecture at UPenn on 1/16

Nationally-renowned R&B / soul singer (and University of Pennsylvania graduate) John Legend will return to his alma mater on Wednesday, January 16, to deliver the university’s 12th Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture in Social Justice. While studying English and African-American Literature at Penn, Legend (offstage name: John Roger Stephens) became active in the university’s a cappella scene, and also began building his name performing at downtown blues venues.

For his appearance, Legend will be interviewed by Penn professor Camille Z. Charles at Irvine Auditorium; tickets are free and available at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts box office at 3680 Walnut Street on a first-come, first-serve basis. Go here for more information. Below, watch Legend performing “How I Got Over” from his collaboration with The Roots at Calvary Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.