50 Fun Facts About Babyface

Which Babyface-written ballad from the film Boomerang spent a then-record 13 weeks at number one in 1992?

End of the Road was recorded for a soundtrack and did not appear on the singers' debut album. Whitney Houston broke its 13-week record within months.

Which pop-punk band had Babyface produce Thnks fr th Mmrs for the 2007 album Infinity on High?

Fall Out Boy sought out Babyface because they admired his work on the Josie and the Pussycats film soundtrack. He also played mandolin on the track.

Which British guitarist recorded the Grammy-winning Change the World with producer Babyface for the film Phenomenon?

Eric Clapton's hit had first been recorded by country singer Wynonna Judd, months before his version appeared. It won three Grammys at the 1997 ceremony.

Which Parliament-Funkadelic star gave Kenneth Edmonds the nickname Babyface for his youthful looks?

Bootsy Collins, who rose to prominence backing James Brown, tagged the young musician with the name that stuck for the rest of his career.

Which Whitney Houston film had a soundtrack of female R&B stars, including Chaka Khan and TLC, produced by Babyface?

Waiting to Exhale topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks and earned eleven Grammy nominations. Babyface wrote or co-wrote all but one of its songs for an all-female lineup.

Which Madonna ballad, written and produced with Babyface, became her longest-running number one on the Hot 100?

Take a Bow led the chart for seven weeks. At Madonna's suggestion, it was the first time Babyface had worked with live strings.

Which pop singer's debut album Yours Truly had five songs produced by Babyface, including the single Baby I?

Ariana Grande called the first half of the record a throwback to 1990s R&B, so she turned to a producer who had shaped that sound.

Which producer's first 2020 Verzuz battle with Babyface collapsed because of technical difficulties?

Teddy Riley drew online jokes for the sound problems, and the two producers had to try again. Millions reportedly tried to join the Instagram broadcast.

Which vocal group took the Babyface ballad I'll Make Love to You to number one for 14 weeks?

Boyz II Men matched the 14-week record Whitney Houston had set with I Will Always Love You. The single also won the group a Grammy.

Which singer finished the song Snooze with Babyface in 2021 sessions before it reached number two on the Hot 100?

SZA first planned Snooze as a duet for one of Babyface's own albums, then kept it for her record SOS. It spent 70 weeks on the Hot 100.

Which Atlanta label did Babyface co-found in 1989 as a joint venture with Arista, launching TLC and Outkast?

LaFace Records combined its two founders' nicknames, L.A. and Babyface. It was dissolved after Reid was promoted to run Arista.

Which Whitney Houston single gave Babyface and L.A. Reid their first number one pop hit?

I'm Your Baby Tonight was written to stretch Houston's voice, yet she recorded it in less than an hour, in one take.

Which former New Edition singer worked with Babyface and L.A. Reid on Don't Be Cruel, the best-selling album of 1989?

Bobby Brown's album spent six weeks at number one and produced five top-ten hits. Whitney Houston later hired the same two producers for her own record.

Which TLC single, written and produced by Babyface for CrazySexyCool, reached number two on the Hot 100?

Red Light Special came from the first girl-group album to reach diamond status. Its video was issued in three versions of rising heat.

Which Toni Braxton single, with lyrics by Babyface, became her first number one on the Hot 100?

You're Makin' Me High grew from a beat first meant for another singer, until Braxton had Babyface write the lyrics. It won her a Grammy.

On which TV competition did Babyface partner with professional Allison Holker in 2016, leaving in the fourth week?

Dancing with the Stars cast him in its 23rd season, and he finished 11th. He went out in the same week as rapper Vanilla Ice.

Which Canadian singer performed The Power of the Dream, co-written by Babyface, at the 1996 Olympics opening ceremony?

Celine Dion sang it in Atlanta with co-writer David Foster at the piano, backed by the city's symphony orchestra and a massed choir.

In which city, Babyface's birthplace, was a 25-mile stretch of Interstate 65 renamed in his honor?

Indianapolis is where he attended North Central High School and, as a shy youth, began writing songs to express his emotions.

Which Cincinnati band, with Babyface on guitar and L.A. Reid on drums, scored a top-ten hit with Two Occasions?

The Deele reunited decades later: Babyface and Reid rejoined their old bandmates on stage at the 2016 BET Honors.

Which teenage Star Search contestant signed to Babyface's Atlanta label and released a self-titled debut album in 1994?

Usher was signed on the spot after singing a Babyface-written ballad at his audition for L.A. Reid. At 13 he had held a 12-second note on the talent show.

Which Motown legend co-wrote and sang How Come, How Long with Babyface, a duet about domestic violence?

Stevie Wonder also played harmonica on the track, which was inspired by the Nicole Brown Simpson case. It earned a Grammy nomination.

Which saxophonist plays on Babyface's ballad Every Time I Close My Eyes, with Mariah Carey singing backing vocals?

Kenny G later put an alternate version on his own album The Moment, this time without Carey's vocals.

Which Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey duet from The Prince of Egypt did Babyface produce and partly rewrite?

When You Believe won the Oscar for Best Original Song, but composer Stephen Schwartz left Babyface's name off the nomination form.

Which singer declined Love Shoulda Brought You Home because of her pregnancy, opening the door for Toni Braxton?

Anita Baker had the song written for her by Babyface and his partners. Braxton's version, on the Boomerang soundtrack, reached the top 40.

Which soul legend recorded the Babyface-written Willing to Forgive for her 1994 greatest hits album?

Aretha Franklin took the ballad to number five on the R&B chart. A year later she sang for Babyface again on one of his film soundtracks.

Which acoustic Babyface single earned him his first Grammy as a performer, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance?

When Can I See You was a song Madonna was fond of, and she soon invited its writer to work on her next album.

Which Babyface top-ten single had a music video audition where he met his future wife, Tracey Edmonds?

Whip Appeal reached number six on the Hot 100 in 1990. Tracey auditioned for a role in the video, and the two were married from 1992 to 2005.

Which 1989 Babyface album, later certified triple platinum, included his first top-ten hit, It's No Crime?

Tender Lover topped the R&B album chart for eight weeks. He returned to the name in 2015 with a sequel album.

Which Grammy Award did Babyface take home three years in a row during his mid-1990s run of hits?

Producer of the Year went to Babyface alone at the 1996, 1997 and 1998 ceremonies. He had first won it in 1993 with L.A. Reid, in a tie with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.

Which R&B trio, founded by Babyface's older brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, did he name and help sign to Virgin?

After 7 was marketed with an invented family tie: third member Keith Mitchell was billed as L.A. Reid's cousin, which was not true.

Which singer's debut single Girlfriend, written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, reached the US top five?

Pebbles heard the song, first meant for Vanessa Williams, and offered Reid more money and two cars for the chance to record it.

Which singer's platinum 1988 debut album, produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, included the hit Superwoman?

Karyn White also topped the R&B chart with Love Saw It, a duet with Babyface from the same record.

Which singer, a voice on Quincy Jones's Back on the Block, took Babyface's Can We Talk into the pop top ten?

Tevin Campbell's single spent three weeks at number one on the R&B chart and led off his second album, I'm Ready.

Which singer's 1990 ballad My, My, My, a Babyface and L.A. Reid production, topped the R&B chart for two weeks?

Johnny Gill made the album during a hiatus of his group New Edition, and the single also reached the pop top ten.

Which hit by The Whispers began as a demo recorded by Babyface, who then co-produced it with L.A. Reid?

Rock Steady came from the group's 18th studio album and became their second and final number one on the R&B chart.

Which future pop star's debut single Knocked Out was co-written and produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid in 1988?

Paula Abdul's first single stalled at number 41 on the Hot 100. It was the only track the duo produced for her album Forever Your Girl.

Which Mary J. Blige hit did Babyface write around Angela Bassett's abandoned-wife storyline in a 1995 film?

Not Gon' Cry reached number two on the Hot 100 and topped the R&B chart. Billboard said the pairing needed to happen again and again.

Which singer recorded Babyface's Sittin' Up in My Room and later admitted overdoing her vocal runs to impress him?

Brandy recalled Babyface telling her she did not have to do all of that. The single climbed to number two on the Hot 100.

Which singer's 2011 single Best Thing I Never Had lists Babyface among its writers and producers?

Beyoncé's song did not start out as a ballad: it was inspired by the drumming on Doug E. Fresh's 1985 single The Show.

Which singer worked with Babyface on her debut album Can't Take Me Home, source of the top-five hit Most Girls?

Pink signed to Babyface's own label after her girl group Choice broke up. Most Girls, which he co-wrote and produced, peaked at number four.

Which R&B band's 1983 album No Parking on the Dance Floor carried Slow Jam, an early Babyface songwriting credit?

Midnight Star's album went double platinum, and its quiet storm ballad gave Babyface one of his first major credits for an outside act.

Which 1970s funk band featured a teenage Babyface on guitar and had a minor hit with Especially for You?

Manchild released two albums, Power and Love and Feel the Phuff, and is now best known for the teenager in its lineup.

Which 1997 film from Babyface's Edmonds Entertainment cast him and his brothers as singers in the group Milestone?

Soul Food also gave Babyface a songwriting hit: A Song for Mama, written for the film, earned several best-song nominations.

Which Philadelphia R&B group, signed to Babyface's label, covered Chicago's Hard to Say I'm Sorry in the late 1990s?

Az Yet earned a Grammy nomination for the cover, which featured Peter Cetera, the voice of the original. Their first single, Last Night, was an R&B number one.

Which rapper joined Babyface and the former members of Shalamar on his 1996 remake of This Is for the Lover in You?

LL Cool J helped the remake reach number six on the Hot 100, though the song was considered atypical for Babyface at the time.

Which star had Babyface co-produce Partners, her 2014 album of duets with male singers, and sing on it with her?

Barbra Streisand remade Lost Inside of You with him, a song she first recorded with Kris Kristofferson. The album debuted at number one.

Which rapper featured Babyface on Comfortable, a Kanye West-produced track from a 2008 album?

Lil Wayne's track, from Tha Carter III, borrows from an Alicia Keys song that Kanye West had co-written.

Which singer's first single, Someone to Love, was a duet with Babyface that gained exposure on the Bad Boys soundtrack?

Jon B. launched his career with a song Babyface wrote and produced himself. It reached the pop top ten and earned a Grammy nomination.

Which 2022 Babyface album, his first for Capitol, grew from the younger fans he won in a 2020 webcast battle?

Girls Night Out features only female guests, from Ella Mai to Ari Lennox, and was nominated for the Best R&B Album Grammy.

Which singer could not finish Too Good to Say Goodbye until Babyface heard its chorus and joined him at the piano?

Bruno Mars built his album 24K Magic on the R&B he fell in love with as a kid, and counted Babyface among its inspirations.