Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds Pics

Kenneth

Edmonds

10 April 1958

Babyface

69

Average

Brown - Dark

Black

Indianapolis, IN

Aries

Black

Laface founder and Producer

Male

American

R&B

Pop/Rock, Urban, Adult Contemporary, Adult Contemporary R&B, Quiet Storm, Pop, Club/Dance, Electronic

Sensual, Romantic, Soothing, Laid-Back/Mellow, Slick, Intimate, Sexy, Smooth, Stylish, Gentle, Confident, Calm/Peaceful, Sentimental, Nocturnal, Producer

Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

Soundtrack, Producer, Actor/Actress

1

Personal Information Born Kenneth Edmonds on April 10, 1959, in Indianapolis, IN; son of Marvin and Barbara (a pharmaceutical plant manager) Edmonds; married Denise (divorced, c. 1980s); married Tracey, 1992; children: Brandon, Dylan. Career Producer, songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, guitarist, and solo performing and recording artist, late 1970s-; member of groups ManChild, mid-1970s, and the Deele, mid-1980s; with L.A. Reid, writer and producer of recordings by the Deele, Shalamar, the Whispers, After 7, Karyn White, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, TLC, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, and others, 1987-; released debut solo album, Lovers, 1989; Tender Lover, 1989; For the Cool in You, 1993; The Day, 1996; Christmas with Babyface, 1998; Face 2 Face, 2001; cofounded LaFace Records, 1989; cofounded Edmonds Entertainment, 1997. Life`s Work Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has emerged as one of the most prolific producers, songwriters, and performers in popular music. Much of the artist`s success has been achieved in tandem with Antonio "L.A." Reid, with whom he founded the LaFace record label in 1989; at one point, the duo was responsible for six singles appearing simultaneously in the R&B Top Ten. Described by Gordon Chambers of Vibe as "clearly an architect of today`s black pop scene," Edmonds has written songs for such pop luminaries as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, TLC, and Madonna. A Keyboard magazine writer deemed him "that rarest of creatures, a producer with a Midas touch." Not content to remain behind the recording console, however, Edmonds, who reluctantly adopted the nickname Babyface, given to him by guitarist Bootsy Collins, has also pursued a successful career as a solo recording artist. Love and music have always been inextricably combined for Edmonds. He grew up in the Midwest, the second youngest of six boys, and--as he told David Ritz in Essence--"I fell in love almost every day. I fell in love at the drop of a hat. I can remember falling in love as far back as kindergarten." These episodes of infatuation always had a soundtrack. "When I was falling in love with love, I was also falling in love with melody. [Soul superstar] Stevie Wonder`s melodies, [British pop icons] the Beatles` melodies--any pretty melody might move me. Melodies spoke to me about the state of my own heart." At a young age he learned guitar. When he was in eighth grade, Edmonds`s father died of lung cancer, leaving his mother to raise her sons alone. At this stage, Edmonds became determined to have a career in music. While in the ninth grade, Edmonds used this determination to devise a way to meet some of his musical idols. He confided to Jack Baird of Musician that he would phone concert promoters pretending to be his teacher, asking if the musicians would grant his gifted young charge--namely himself--an interview. Civic-minded chart-toppers like the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and funk hit-makers Earth, Wind and Fire agreed, and Edmonds was able to chat with them. Baird theorized that young Babyface made very good mental notes of whatever they divulged and stored them away for later use.

North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana (1976)

www.babyfacemusic.com/

Kenneth Brian Edmonds

1

17

Kenneth Brian "Babyface" Edmonds (born April 10, 1958) is an American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entrepreneur.

Music Department

53