John Legend announces fall U.S. tour

John Legend is busy putting the finishing touches on his fourth album, “Love in the Future,” the nine-time Grammy winner’s first solo album in nearly four years.

To preview the upcoming record, the soul crooner announced Monday that he would set out on a fall U.S. tour. The trek, which kicks off Oct. 16 in Clearwater, Fla., will hit more than 20 cities including a Nov. 18 stop in Los Angeles at the Wiltern.

Joining Legend are two fresh faces: soul singer-songwriter Stacy Barthe (she’s penned tracks for Britney Spears, Melanie Fiona, Estelle and Brandy) on the tour’s first leg, and buzzy U.K. folk-soul songstress Lianne La Havas on the second leg.

Legend’s last solo album was 2008’s “Evolver,” but since then he’s teamed up with the Roots on the socially conscious joint effort “Wake Up!” The disc was heralded by critics and took home three Grammys last year, including R&B album.

“Love in the Future” is executive-produced by Legend alongside longtime collaborators Kanye West and Dave Tozer. Check out the teaser video that the singer released Monday for a snippet of one of the album’s tracks, “Caught Up,” co-written by West and produced by Hit-Boy, the man behind the Throne’s epic single, “… In Paris.”

Tickets for Legend’s L.A. date go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

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