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.
- Also Credited As:
Babyface, Bill Campbell, Face, Kenneth Brian Edmonds, Kenneth Edmonds, Kenny Edmonds, Terri Cannon
- Born:
April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Job Titles:
Producer, Singer, Songwriter, Executive
Family
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Daughter: Peyton Nicole Edmonds. Born Sept. 9, 2008; mother is Nicole Pantenburg
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Son: Brandon Edmonds. Born in August 1996; mother, Tracey Edmonds
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Son: Dylan Michael Edmonds. Born March 26, 2001; mother, Tracey Edmonds
Significant Others
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Wife: Tracey E Edmonds. president of Yab Yum Entertainment; also partnered with her husband in Edmonds Entertainment
Education
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North Central High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1976
Milestones
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1987 Released solo debut, Lovers
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1989 Together with L A Reid (formerly The Deele s drummer), established LaFace Records
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1994 Began his only concert tour, headlining with Boyz II Men
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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
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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
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1995 Wrote and dueted with Madonna on Top 10 hit Take A Bow
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1996 Released fourth solo album, The Day
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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
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1997 Received 12 Grammy Award nominations, tying the record set by Michael Jackson; won three awards
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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
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1998 Second film as executive producer, Hav Plenty
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1999 With Robert Kraft and George Fenton, wrote the theme song ( How Can I Not Love You ) from Anna and the King
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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
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Began career as a recording artist with the groups Manchild and The Deele
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Grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana