ARTISTS
JOHN LEGEND
A voice for change
By Harry Belafonte
John Legend is a wonderful artist. He’s a remarkable lyricist, and the songs he has giftedly crafted are straight-ahead beautiful melodies that will find a welcoming home in the great library of American songs. One of my personal favorites is “Glory,” the duet he performed with Common for the Selma soundtrack—a song with a powerful message about overcoming adversity. With songs like this, he has rewarded a diverse fan base, and I am pleased to be part of such a multitude.
John uses his platform to push for meaningful social change, and the depth of his commitment is to be admired. He has visited prisons to raise awareness about mass incarceration—the new slavery—and he spoke out about the importance of Black Lives Matter at Sankofa’s Many Rivers to Cross festival, which I helped organize. I hope John continues to grow as an artist and an activist.
‘I THINK ART HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN MAKING US SEE EACH OTHER AS HUMAN.’
JOHN LEGEND
Belafonte is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and an activist
Ben Platt
Broadway’s boy wonder
By Zac Efron
From the minute he stepped onto the Dear Evan Hansen stage, I knew there was something different about Ben Platt. His speech pattern had such a unique rhythm, and his singing—it’s rare to hear a voice with such range, tone and pitch that can also convey complicated emotions musically. I wanted to give him a standing ovation after his first song.
Dear Evan Hansen tells a very particular story about teen suicide and anxiety. But because of the way Ben brings Evan to life, that story becomes instantly relatable for any person who has ever felt conflicting emotions without having an outlet. His performance brought me back to a sensitive place. It was almost difficult to watch, because it hit so close to home.
When I met Ben backstage, I was pretty emotional. I could tell that he was still recovering from the show too—it was like he had lived it. And he does that eight times a week.
Ben has mastered his craft at a young age, so I can’t wait to see where he goes after this. I’d offer him some acting advice, but I think if anything, I should be asking him for a lesson!
“THERE’S NO POINT TO LIVING LIFE UNLESS YOU MAKE HISTORY,” LOVATO HAS SAID. “AND THE BEST WAY TO MAKE
