BE LEGENDARY WITH JOHN LEGEND WINNERS UNVEILED!
posted in: Music News • OurStage Updates
The suspense has been killing us since the Be Legendary with John Legend channel judging closed, but at last the results are in. With so much talent getting involved it is no surprise that choosing a winner was such a painstaking decision for the accomplished singer. The channel ran last month and was a Radio-One/OurStage promotion in partnership with Columbia Records. Artists were prompted to come up with their own rendition of John Legend’s latest single “Everybody Knows”, and enter it. The Grand Prize winner would receive the honor of opening for John Legend at a high profile show, hotel and airfare included. John Legend has spent the past few weeks listening to the artists in the closing top 10, trying to settle on just one to give the honor of “Grand Prize Winner.” There was so much talent, however, that he couldn’t settle on just one. Instead he chose one Grand Prize winner and two runners-up. The two runners-up will have the unique opportunity to play their versions of “Everybody Knows” at a John Legend concert in their area. Without further ado, here are Grand Prize winner Porsche Smith and runners-up Michael Logen and Wil Guice!
I write and play from the heart. -PS
Mixing soul, pop and singer/songwriter styles is something that, when done right, really makes its mark on listeners. Grand Prize winner of the Be Legendary Radio One competition Porsche Smith does this flawlessly. This artist’s well-crafted guitar grooves and bluesy, nostalgic vocals portray emotion in her music that just doesn’t come around that often. Armed with her guitar, Porsche entered the competition with only a three days left until the deadline. Her original, singer/songwriter take on “Everybody Knows” clearly left its mark on the listeners as she climbed to the top.
When asked how she felt about opening for John Legend, Porsche had nothing but excited and appreciative words to say about the artist and what he has done for her, both in this contest and as inspiration. She is excited to announce that she has recently taken a more polished, pop approach to her music and released an EP called Loveland in this spirit. You can purchase it on iTunes and CD Baby. Check out her profile to have a listen to what caught the ears of John Legend.
“One great song inspires another.” -ML
If you’re a regular OurStage user you know that Michael Logen is no stranger to the channel competitions. Having only been here a few months and already securing two #1 spots and many other top 10 honors, he has definitely proven his songwriting prowess. And now he has proven that he can craft a great cover song too. His styles range from soft rock to alternative country, giving him the power to reach listeners on many levels. Though Logen’s list of influences is extensive, his satisfying melodies and well 
crafted song structures can be likened to diverse artists like Jack Johnson, Ben Gibbard, and James Blunt.
We caught up with Michael on the phone to ask him how he felt about his selection to open for John Legend. His ecstatic yet humble response credits his honest, genuine image as an artist. He said that he is thrilled to have the opportunity to just cover a John Legend song and compete with the other entries, let alone open for the R&B star. Michael has a lot more going on in the coming weeks. He’s excited to be opening for popular blues artist Johnny Lang for a few dates. Additionally, he co-wrote the song “City of Black and White” with Matt Kearney on his album due out May 18th. Be sure to check out Michael’s profile to get more details about these exciting events.
“This real R&B, that gritty realness, it can still exist” -WG
Covering a song within the same genre of the original runs the risk of creating some repetition and perhaps a lack of originality. Fortunately, R&B artist Wil Guice has broken that mold. Listeners were immediately responsive to his version of the song and its soulful, classic style, which Guice himself attributes to John Legend’s ability to create that classic R&B sound in today’s market. With influences spanning back to the origins of what R&B has become, Guice mentions Sam Cooke, for example. His other influences include Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Al Green, just to give you a sense of where he’s coming from. With natural talent and a unique ear for gritty accompaniment, this artist will certainly turn some heads as he progresses in the industry.
After we finally convinced Wil that this wasn’t one of his buddies “just messing with him,” he was shocked and appreciative to be given the honor to perform with such a dynamic and true artist as John Legend. Possibly the most impressive aspect of his cover was that it was produced independently, using means that many of us have access to (i.e. Garage Band and a lot of passion). Keep an eye out for a “street album” due out this summer; he promises a throwback to some of that “old, soulful” blues. Wil’s “whole life is music,” and with dedication like that, you just have to give this artist a shot. Check him out.
Whether it’s a nostalgic soul rendition, a fully produced soft rock song, or a girl and her guitar, “Everybody Knows” hasn’t stopped reaching new listeners thanks to this competition. All of the covers in the channel were unique and ear-catching. Congratulations to the winners as well as the rest in the channel for such great work: you stepped up in a huge way. To all of you who voted, you made the competition interesting and put your own say into who should be on stage. Be sure to keep an eye out for future promotions with Radio-One and other partners. Who knows, you could be the next opener or VIP guest for your favorite artist!