Babyface
About this Artist
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is a 13-time Grammy Award–winning recording artist, songwriter, and producer and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the Grammy for Producer of the Year four times—three in consecutive years (1996–98)—a record he holds to this day. Kenny is also cofounder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk.
From humble beginnings in Indianapolis, Kenny developed his love for music early on when he began songwriting at the age of 12. Upon graduating from high school, he signed his first record deal after joining the band Manchild. In the 1980s, he became a guitarist and songwriter for the R&B band The Deele.
Over the past five decades, he has released three consecutive multiplatinum albums: Tender Lover (1989), featuring the No. 1 “Tender Lover”; For the Cool in You (1993), which included “Never Keeping Secrets” and “When Can I See You”; and The Day (1996), featuring “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”
Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, *NSYNC, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Faith Evans, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Chris Brown, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Luther Vandross, Barbra Streisand, and countless others.
Most recently, Babyface won his 13th Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for “Snooze” by SZA. He received nominations in two other categories: Best R&B Album (Girls Night Out) and Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Simple” by Babyface and Coco Jones off his Girls Night Out album).
In 2023, Babyface’s single, “As a matter of fact,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. The song was his first No. 1 solo single in 26 years.
Babyface is a passionate philanthropist, actively supporting the Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Larry Ruvo’s Keep Memory Alive, and Stand Up To Cancer. In 2023 he partnered with the nonprofit organization Music Will to launch music programs in 20 schools in his hometown of Indianapolis. He has also lent his support to FasterCures, VH1 Save the Music, United Negro College Fund, the David Foster Foundation, and the Mike Milken Prostate Cancer Foundation.