New York, NY -- Multi-platinum Grammy-Award-winning recording artist and acclaimed performer

John Legend

will embark on an extensive worldwide concert tour kicking off November 19 in Minneapolis. The first leg of John's North American tour wraps up December 13 with a second leg running from January 12 through February 9. (Please see John Legend tour itinerary below.)

The upcoming John Legend concerts mark the artist's first major tour since his massively successful world tour in 2007 (captured on Live From Philadelphia CD and DVD).

John's special guest on the tour's initial dates is his Columbia Records label mate

Raphael Saadiq

, who will be performing songs from his just-released new album,

The Way I See It

.

One of the most eagerly-awaited releases of 2008,

EVOLVER

is John Legend's first full-length studio album in two years and will be released October 28. Guests on

EVOLVER

include OutKast's Andre 3000, emerging hip-hop/soul ingénue Estelle, R&B/pop superstar Brandy and John's longtime collaborator Kanye West.

* * * * *

John Legend - 2008 Tour Dates

Wed 11/19 Minneapolis, MN Northrop Auditorium

Thu 11/20 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

Mon 11/24 E. Lansing, MI Wharton Center For Performing Arts

Wed 11/26 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre

Fri 11/28 Toronto, Ont. Roy Thompson Hall

Sat 11/29 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre

Mon 12/1 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre

Tue 12/2 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre

Fri 12/5 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater

Mon 12/8 Baltimore, MD Lyric Theatre

Tue 12/9 Washington, DC Constitution Hall

Wed 12/10 Greenville, SC Peace Center

Fri 12/12 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium

Sat 12/13 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center