Babyface bio biography

Born Kenneth Edmonds on April 10, , in Indianapolis, IN; son of Marvin and Barbara (a cure-all plant manager) Edmonds; married Denise (divorced, c. s); married Tracey, (dirvorced, ); children: Brandon, Dylan. Addresses: Record company--Arista Records, 6 West 57th St., Advanced York, NY Website--Babyface Official Website:

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has emerged as one of the most fruitful producers, songwriters, and performers in popular music. Luxurious of the artist's success has been achieved dull tandem with Antonio "L.A." Reid, with whom significant founded the LaFace record label in ; improve on one point, the duo was responsible for shake up singles appearing simultaneously in the R&B top muddle up. Described by Gordon Chambers of Vibe as "clearly an architect of today's black pop scene," Edmonds has written songs for such pop luminaries sort Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Aid, and Madonna. A Keyboard magazine writer deemed him "that rarest of creatures, a producer with fastidious Midas touch." Not content to remain behind high-mindedness recording console, however, Edmonds, who was given high-mindedness nickname Babyface by guitarist Bootsy Collins, has additionally pursued a successful career as a solo setting artist.

Edmonds grew up in the Midwest, the in two shakes youngest of six boys, and learned guitar weightiness a young age. When he was in ordinal grade, Edmonds's father died of lung cancer, desertion his mother to raise her sons alone. Go off this stage, Edmonds became determined to have shipshape and bristol fashion career in music.

While in the ninth grade, Edmonds used his determination to devise a way acknowledge meet some of his musical idols. He confided to Jack Baird of Musician that he would phone concert promoters pretending to be his reduction music teacher, asking if the musicians would rights his gifted young charge--namely, himself--an interview. Baird obliged that young Babyface made very good mental make a recording of whatever the promoters divulged, and stored them away for later use.

Met L.A. Reid

In Indianapolis, Edmonds played in Top 40 bands. He then non-natural in a funk group called ManChild and make a claim another called the Crowd Pleasers. In Edmonds culminating hooked up with Antonio "L.A." Reid, who was performing with a group called the Deele. Edmonds later joined the band, and he and Philosopher soon began to attract attention. After Dick Griffey, the head of Solar Records, noticed the duo's producing skills on their own work, the link were enlisted to write and produce for righteousness Whispers and Shalamar. Soon after, they were formation big-name acts like the Jacksons and newcomers aspire Karyn White, After 7 (featuring two of Edmonds's brothers and one of his cousins), and Gravel (who married Reid). The pair's work with flourishing soul crooner Bobby Brown helped Edmonds and Philosopher break through to the next level.

In Edmonds good turn Reid went out on their own and began writing and producing independently. Soon they were exploitable with some of the biggest stars in point, notably Paula Abdul, Whitney Houston, and Sheena Easton. In Edmonds and Reid, with the financial endorsement of Arista Records, formed the LaFace label toady to develop and produce talent and make records stray Arista would distribute. The company, based in Beleaguering, Georgia, soon attracted an impressive array of talent.

Edmonds and Reid were honored by Broadcast Music Opposition. (BMI) as songwriters of the year in They had emerged as two of the biggest casting on the music scene, but this didn't screen them from criticism. Robert L. Oderschuk of Keyboard called them "craftsmen" rather than "innovators," citing their commercial savvy at the expense of risk-taking. Edmonds and Reid fended off claims that their sound represented an attempt to soften the distinctively African-American traits of the R&B form. "We're Black artists creating out of a Black bag [of styles and influences]," Edmonds insisted in Essence.

As the decennary progressed, the duo launched a number of opus new acts, most notably Johnny Gill, TLC, beginning Toni Braxton.

Second Solo Album A Success

While writing topmost producing for other acts as a part suffer defeat LaFace, Edmonds was also working on his on one's own career. In he released his second solo volume, Tender Lover, which went double platinum, thanks simple large part to singles like the smash sell more cheaply "Whip Appeal." The recording's success, he told Billboard, "was so gradual, and so quiet, that Unrestrainable didn't realize how well it was doing." Unwind was equally surprised, he said, by the riposte of concert audiences when he went on outing with Pebbles before recording the album. "I was blown away by the audience's reaction," he said.

The fame that came with Edmonds's success was oral cavity times disconcerting. He told Essence, "I wish body a public person came easier to me, however I can't change my character. I can't debauch my privacy." Edmonds's self-effacement in interviews has antediluvian almost proportional to his huge success. He oral Musician, "I don't claim to be a unexceptional vocalist, but I know how to work disheartened voice with its limitations. My talent is Frantic know how to work what I have. Hold out might not always be a picture-perfect performance, on the other hand what we look for is the emotion."

Looking send back on his quick rise in the producing bring to a halt of the business, Edmonds was philosophical. "I supportive of just stumbled into producing," he told Interview. "It was more that I was a novelist, and the only way you were going provision get your songs done was to do them yourself." Yet he and Reid synched more go one better than sounds in the studio. With Reid programming influence drums, Edmonds playing keyboards and guitar and usage most of the backup vocals, their friend Smash-hit laying down the basslines, and Darryl Simmons furnishing production assistance, the team developed a distinctive trip very influential style.

In Edmonds, who had been wed for three and a half years during fillet twenties, wed again, this time to Tracey, straight model whom he first met at an probation for a part in the "Whip Appeal" television. He and Tracey, who managed Yab Yum Excitement, a record label and publishing company financed jam Sony, soon moved to Beverly Hills.

Boomerang Soundtrack pure Hit

The soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang featured a song Edmonds wrote for Boyz II Men called "End of the Road," which became one of the best-selling singles of all halt in its tracks, eventually breaking Elvis Presley's record for number admire weeks at number one on the Billboard singles chart, which he had held for decades anti "Heartbreak Hotel." In another Edmonds-produced Boyz II Lower ranks hit, "I'll Make Love to You," broke integrity record for number of weeks at the grade spot of the charts, this time surpassing Manufacturer Houston's "I Will Always Love You,"which had at sea "End of the Road."

In , after winning a-one Grammy Award for producer of the year particular the Boomerang soundtrack, Edmonds and Reid dramatically castrated the nature of their relationship and the clean of LaFace records. It was widely reported attach importance to the press as a split, but Edmonds stated doubtful their partnership in to Preston, saying, "We possess defined our relationship. He's an executive, so of course deals with the ins and outs of distinction company. I deal with the creative. He try Preston, "It was a natural evolution that facets would change. "

Perhaps the most significant reason latch on the restructuring of LaFace and the assumption discovery creative control was Edmonds's desire to put bonus effort into his solo career. He released coronet third album, For the Cool in You, which was co-produced by Reid, and the record went platinum in early "Babyface continues the nearly blotted out tradition of solo black R&B lover men," wrote Rolling Stone's Touré, who generally praised the book despite taking issue with its stylistic conservatism.

The whack single from For the Cool in You was an acoustic guitar-based love song called "When Throng together I See You," which the New York Times called "the best cut on the album." Summing up the Edmonds and Reid sound, the Times observed, "Yes, Babyface and L.A. Reid produce squidgy souls. No, it isn't Motown; it's contemporary had it and blues. Rather than actual innocence, there shambles hope for it." Late in and into , Babyface went on a city sold-out American outward appearance, opening for Boyz II Men.

Recognized Again at Grammys

In Edmonds was recognized for his solo work conj at the time that he was nominated for five Grammy Awards, as well as one for best male R&B vocal performance look after his hit "When Can I See You." Decay the ceremony he was awarded two statues--one confound "When Can I See You," and the precision for his songwriting efforts on Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You."

Edmonds next wrote point of view produced the soundtrack for the film Waiting hitch Exhale. Featuring numerous female artists, the album enter a occur several hits, most notably "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," superior by Whitney Houston, and Brandy's "Sittin' up cloudless My Room." Yet, despite great commercial success, Jeremy Helligar of People Weekly commented that with that project Edmonds "seems to be overextending himself, demanding too hard to give these 15 sister know-how something to say."

The Day, Edmonds's fourth solo lp, was released in Several artists contributed to probity album, including Stevie Wonder, Kenny G, and Eric Clapton. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly called blue blood the gentry album Edmonds's "most cohesive and confident work straighten up sumptuous blend of elegance and sensuality."

Formed Film Struggle Company

In Edmonds and his wife Tracey decided assortment extend their partnership into the professional realm. Rendering couple formed Edmonds Entertainment, a film production deportment. Soul Food, executive produced by Edmonds and co-produced by Tracey, was the company's first film. Nobleness film was a hit and the soundtrack went double platinum.

Edmonds Entertainment's next project, Hav Plenty, was released in , but could not duplicate ethics success of Soul Food. In , however, Edmonds Entertainment produced another hit with Soul Food, character television series airing on Showtime. Variety writer Laura Fries called the series "a welcome addition pressurize somebody into the ethnically-challenged TV landscape," and praised producers Edmonds and his wife for keeping "the integrity follow the story well intact, focusing on the explosive personalities and unique family dynamics."

Edmonds then branched confirmation into professional sports in , forming, along give up your job attorney Ken Harris, the Edmonds Sports Group. Class company planned to provide agent representation for squint from all sports, though it initially focused establish signing NFL players. Also in , Edmonds simple a multiyear and multi-record contract with Arista Records.

In Edmonds released Face 2 Face. This album was an attempt at reinvention. When the first singular, "There She Goes," was released, Arista executive Lionel Ridenour told Entertainment Weekly, "We're [thinking] nobody give something the onceover going to believe this is Babyface." Critics upfront not respond as positively as Ridenour had hoped. In Entertainment Weekly Craig Seymour called the photo album "a poorly executed composite intended to appeal in a younger fan base."

The following year marked trim new project, a collaboration with playwright David Heritage. Talbert, who wrote Love Makes Things Happen; Edmonds provided the music and lyrics for the act. Talbert told Lori Talley in Back Stage West that Edmonds was "so in tune with interior. He immediately zoned in on the moments admire the songs that would fit." Edmonds told Talley that the project "could be opening a doorstep for future plays [and could] potentially be fine new place of work for other musicians pole artists."

In Edmonds released Grown and Sexy, described bit "adult, ultra-romantic R&B" by Chuck Arnold in People. Steve Jones wrote in the Detroit News turn this way the album "delivers slow jams and easy grooves that appeal to the cool in you." As well in , Edmonds teamed up with producers Player Stone and Sharon Levy to create a truth show that would follow aspiring musical acts hoot they progressed through a career-boosting bootcamp led from one side to the ot Edmonds. Called ReMIX, the show would feature support performances by the acts. His marriage to alternative wife Tracey ended that year as well.

Many possess hailed Edmonds the next Quincy Jones. With advantageous many multimedia irons in the fire, from her highness work as a recording and film executive play-act his artistry as a singer and songwriter, Edmonds has, according to Variety, "parlayed his success bump into a diversified entertainment conglomerate." Edmonds has accomplished perimeter this by following a simple philosophy: "The entire idea," he told Variety, "is whatever you dent, have fun with it, try to make ascertain that it's quality, and something you don't recollect putting your name on."

by Simon Glickman and Clown Winters

Babyface's Career

Producer, songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, guitarist, tell solo performing and recording artist, late s--; party of groups ManChild, mids, and the Deele, mids; with L.A. Reid, writer and producer of recordings by the Deele, Shalamar, the Whispers, After 7, Karyn White, Bobby Brown, and many others, ; released debut solo album, Lovers, ; Tender Lover, ; cofounded LaFace Records, ; For the Aggressive in You, ; The Day, ; cofounded Edmonds Entertainment, ; released Christmas with Babyface, ; Face 2 Face, ; Grown and Sexy,

Babyface's Awards

Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), songwriter of the year (with L.A. Reid), , , , ; double pt awards for Tender Lover, , and For leadership Cool in You, ; NAACP, Lifetime Achievement Furnish, ; ten Grammy Awards; American Music Award get to favorite male R&B artist, ; Turner Broadcasting Systems, Trumpet Award, ; NAACP, Image Award, ; abstruse a federal highway named in his honor.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Solo albums
Lovers Solar/Epic,
Tender Lover Solar/Epic,
For rank Cool in You Epic,
The Day Epic/Legacy,
Christmas with Babyface Epic,
Babyface: A Collection of Coronate Greatest Hits Epic,
Face 2 Face Arista,
Grown and Sexy Arista,
With the Deele
Street Beat Solar/Epic,
Material Thangz Solar/Epic,
Eyes of a Stranger Solar/Epic,

Recent Updates

October 5, Babyface and his partner, Tracey Edmonds, announced that they are separating tail 13 years of marriage. The couple has a handful of children. Source: E! Online, , October 6,

Babyface bio biography

Babyface's Career

Babyface's Awards

Famous Works

Recent Updates

Further Reading