The many faces of Babyface

For every critical triumph or commercial success that a song achieves, it is the singer who invariably hogs the limelight and reaps the lion’s share of the acclaim from adoring fans.  And for a very good and valid reason: It is the singer who vocalizes the winning musical piece, leaving a deep and lasting impression on the hearts and minds of the listeners.

Equally deserving of recognition but completely obscured by the resounding applause for the singer, is the creative force that is responsible for the development and evolution of the song performed by the artist.

Whether as a songwriter, producer or recording company, it is the creative team that conceptualizes, develops and packages the song into a viable artistic product that will be acceptable and enjoyed by millions of fans until it evolves into a chart-busting hit.

Acknowledged as one of the most accomplished and most successful hitmakers in contemporary music is Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who will treat local fans to a repertoire of the greatest R ‘n B and pop sounds he has performed, written and produced when he comes to Manila for a major concert on Oct. 13 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Billed as Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds Live!, the one-night musical event to be mounted by Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions will kick off the American artist’s 11-city Asian tour to promote his latest album, Playlist. It will also mark the debut appearance in the Philippines of Babyface and the second time in more than two years that a major R ‘n B singer will perform in the local concert circuit which has been consistently dominated by foreign rock and pop singers.

The concert will showcase the talent and versatility of a musical phenomenon who has left an indelible imprint on the evolution of contemporary music with his achievements in virtually every major facet of pop music in the ‘90s as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, record producer, film producer and entrepreneur.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana,  Kenneth Brian Edmonds began playing in local bands as a teenager until he later had a stint with funk megastar Bootsy Collins, who tagged him “Babyface,” the nickname that stuck with him throughout his professional career. He subsequently joined the funk outfit Manchild and the light-funk and R ‘n B group The Deele, which also included Antonio “L.A.” Reid, with whom he would later form a successful partnership.

In the ’80s, Babyface was responsible for contributing to the creation of new jack swing and for writing and producing music for the likes of  Bobby Brown, Sheena Easton, Karyn White, Paula Abdul, Pebbles, The Whispers,  and many others.

Following the release in 1989 of Tender Lover that propelled his successful solo career and ultimately established him as a musical powerhouse, Babyface went on to co-write hits for Johnny Gil, Whitney Houston and Madonna, for whose 1995 seven-week No. 1 hit  Take A Bow  he wrote, produced and provided back-up vocals.

He also produced and wrote songs for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, En Vogue, Mary J. Blige, Tamia, Janet Jackson, Dru Hill, Vanessa Williams, Pink, Tevin Campbell, Lionel Richie and Phil Collins. His biggest success, however, came with Boyz II Men, whose recordings of End Of  The Road and I’ll Make Love To You established records for the longest stay at No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

As an accomplished film and TV composer, his crowning achievement was the unforgettable music for the 1995 hit, Waiting To Exhale, for which he not only produced but also scored the film itself, writing nearly all of its 15 songs, including the Whitney Houston smash Exhale (Shoop, Shoop). The phenomenal soundtrack topped the pop albums chart, sold over seven million units and spawned No. 1 hits for Whitney Houston, Brandy, Toni Braxton and Mary J. Blige.

In 1995, Babyface won the first of three consecutive Grammy Awards as Producer of the Year, a record that has remained unsurpassed until today. He also garnered a Grammy Award for Record of the Year as producer of Eric Clapton’s Change The World in the Phenomenon soundtrack. He also received an Academy Award nomination in 1999 for his music featured in the Jodie Foster starrer,  Anna And The King. Recently, he received his first Emmy Awards nomination for That’s The Way Love Goes, the main title theme music for Soulfood on Showtime, the TV dramatic series that was spun off from the successful movie of the same title produced by  the film and TV production outfit he co-founded with his wife Tracey.

Throughout his spectacular career, Babyface was responsible for writing, producing and performing a prodigious collection of 119 Top 10 hits that include 41 No. 1 R ‘n B hits, 51 Top 10 pop hits, including 16 No. 1 pop hits, which account for total sales of over 100 million units.

Tickets are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores, or call 911-5555.  For sponsorships or block buys, call Ovation Productions at 532-8883.