Babyface

Born Kenneth Brian Edmonds in Indianapolis, Indiana, Babyface established himself in the 1980s with an R&B style that was fluid, melodic and carefully crafted, drawing on soul and new jack swing. After early work with Manchild and then The Deele—where he collaborated notably with L.A. Reid—he developed a parallel career as a songwriter and producer that quickly became central to American pop and R&B. His solo output stretches from Lovers (1986) to Tender Lover (1989), For the Cool in You (1993) and The Day (1996), characterized by restrained vocals, well-paced ballads and production focused on the clarity of harmonies. In 1989 Babyface co-founded the label LaFace Records with L.A. Reid, an influential force in the rise of 1990s R&B, and over time he has worked with artists such as Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, TLC, Madonna and Eric Clapton. He later pursued personal projects including Playlist (2007), the duet album Love, Marriage & Divorce with Toni Braxton (2014), and Girls Night Out (2022). Through writing, production and performance, Babyface has built a body of work associated with a mature, fluid form of R&B deeply rooted in the art of song.