It’s the very first award!
John Legend is set to receive the inaugural Global Impact Award, courtesy of the Black Music Collective during GRAMMY week, The Recording Academy reports.
The Recording Academy just announced that John Legend will be the very first recipient of the Global Impact Award presented during the Recording Academy Honors this GRAMMY Week 2022 by The Black Music Collective.
The 12-time GRAMMY-winning singer began his career over two decades ago, working behind the scenes with artists like Lauryn Hill and JAY-Z. He eventually signed with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, releasing his debut album Get Lifted which peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 Charts and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Legend has been celebrated as a singer, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist, performing at benefit concerts around the world and funding the FREEAMERICA campaign in 2014, which focuses on ending mass incarceration in the United States. He made history as the first Black man to receive the elusive EGOT (Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony Award) and is a member of the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and an Honorary Chair of the Black Music Collective.
“It is our distinct honor to celebrate John Legend as the inaugural recipient of the Recording Academy Honors’ Global Impact Award. John is one of the most important artists of our time, someone who leads by example and pushes important boundaries consistently across music, philanthropy and activism. His contributions and impact to music and our culture are unparalleled,” said Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Co-President of the Recording Academy.
Singer Summer Walker will perform at the ceremony with DJ D-Nice spinning on the ones and twos. MC Lyte will serve as host for the evening with musician Adam Blackstone serving as musical director. Five-time GRAMMY award winning producer Jimmy Jam will make remarks. Jam is not only Honorary Chair of the Black Music Collective, he is also the first Black Chairman of the Recording Academy.
Riggs Morales, Chair of the Black Music Collective, spoke about the prestigious honor, saying, “On behalf of the Black Music Collective, we are honored to bring together some of the most influential creatives of our time to celebrate John Legend ahead of Music’s Biggest Night. This event is a reflection of our continued work as we strive to celebrate the greatest and brightest in Black music who transcend beyond race and genre.”
The inaugural Black Music Collective honors will take place Saturday, April 2, one day before the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
Photo Courtesy of George Pimentel