Babyface

About Babyface

Nicknamed 'Babyface' by funk superstar Bootsy Collins (Parlaiments, Funkadelics) while still a teen, Kenneth Edmonds has written songs for such recording artists as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin and Bobby Brown, among others. He wrote and produced Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" and produced Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You", both of which established records for the longest stay at Number 1 on the BILLBOARD charts. Although primarily known as the man behind the enormous success of others, Babyface is a solo artist who pushed his performing star a notch higher dueting with Madonna on her 1995 Top 10 hit "Take a Bow". He copped his first feature credit for "Ghostbusters II" (1989) and contributed to "Boomerang", "The Bodyguard" (both 1992) and "Poetic Justice" (1993) prior to his tour-de-force effort on "Waiting to Exhale" (1995), writing or co-writing all but one track of the enormously popular soundtrack and producing it in its entirety. Babyface formed the film production company Edmonds Entertainment with his wife Tracey, making his debut as executive producer of the surprise hit "Soul Food" (1997) while his producer wife handled the day-to-day action on the Chicago set.

Partners

Wife

Tracey E Edmonds. Partnered with her husband in Edmonds Entertainment; married from 1994-2006

Education

North Central High School, Indianapolis , Indiana

Career Milestones

2000

Debut as TV producer with Showtime series adaptation of "Soul Food"; served as an executive producer; received Emmy nomination for composing the show's theme with Al Green

1999

With Robert Kraft and George Fenton, wrote the theme song ("How Can I Not Love You") from "Anna and the King"

1998

Second film as executive producer, "Hav Plenty"

1998

For second straight year, led everyone in Grammy nominations with eight; performed live for second year in a row, singing "How Come, How Long?" with Stevie Wonder

1997

Debut as feature film executive producer with "Soul Food"; wife Tracey (as producer) handled the day-to-day job on the Chicago set; also had cameo role in the film

1997

Received 12 Grammy Award nominations, tying the record set by Michael Jackson; won three awards

1996

Released fourth solo album, "The Day"

1995

Tour de force with "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack, writing or co-writing all but one of the tracks and producing album in its entirety

1995

Wrote and dueted with Madonna on Top 10 hit "Take A Bow"

1994

Began his only concert tour, headlining with Boyz II Men

1994

First ever live performance (November 12), to benefit the Little Blue House, established to provide transitional housing for the abandoned children of the Border Baby Project, a charity for which he was serving as spokesman

1989

Together with L A Reid (formerly The Deele's drummer), established LaFace Records

1987

Released solo debut, "Lovers"

Began career as a recording artist with the groups Manchild and The Deele

Grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana