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John Legend's brother delays own album to do musical
Audio: Listen to Vaughn Anthony sing "Listen Up"
Thursday, September 13, 2007
In the musical "From Motown to Gospel," Vaughn Anthony will play a local pastor who walked away from a big-time record deal to pursue the ministry.
Crazy?
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Vaughn AnthonyActually, Anthony would prefer to think Motown is the crazy one — for turning down his brother, John Legend, and maybe passing on him, too.
"I visited with someone at Motown and she said, 'That sounds like John,' " he explained. "What'd you expect? We came from the same mother."
Anthony, the R&B hopeful born Vaughn Stephens, has been trying to find a distributor for his forthcoming debut album — one of the first for Legend's own Home School Records label.
But the North High grad realizes Motown is pretty insignificant — especially considering Motown fell out of favor with God when it left Detroit.
"At the end, your soul is greater than anything," Anthony said.
And that's what persuaded him to stop everything to star in a new production of "From Motown to Gospel" today through Saturday at the King Arts Complex in Columbus.
"I don't feel like I do enough for my part in the kingdom of heaven," he confessed.
The musical tells the true story of Ronald Logan, who quit the Different Shades of Brown in 1972, only eight months into the Springfield group's Motown contract.
"His destiny was clear and strong," said wife and playwright Monica Logan.
The Logans eventually founded Greater Grace Temple on West Leffel Lane.
Anthony, who played a supporting role locally in the original 2004 production, couldn't say no when asked to take the lead.
"We still have that foundation," he said. "We don't forget where we came from."
Now if only the good Lord would see fit to extend the hours of the day — Anthony is a busy man.
He'll soon spend three weeks in Atlanta to work on tracks with producer Teddy Riley (of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" fame).
At almost every step, however, he's been met with the same criticism — that he sounds too much like his Grammy-winning big brother.
"Whatever's hot, let it be hot, regardless of if I sound like Johnny," Anthony said. "The people will embrace it. It's just getting over the hump and convincing record executives that it will sell."
With any luck, the new single "Listen Up" will create the right amount of buzz, not only for himself but the entire Home School crew.
For the song, Legend united his talent roster — Anthony, rapper and fellow Springfield native Shawn Diggy (aka Shawn Terhune), and British rapper Estelle — for its coming-out party.
The song soon will be sent to radio, Anthony said.
"Just to let 'em know Home School's in the building," he said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0352 or amcginn@coxohio.com.
How to go
Vaughn Anthony stars in "From Motown to Gospel" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the King Arts Complex, 867 Mount Vernon Ave., Columbus.
Tickets are $20, and are available at the door or locally at Greater Grace Temple.