Babyface

Babyface is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the ‘Producer of the Year’ category four times, three times of which was in consecutive years (1995-1997); a record he holds to this day. Kenny is also co-founder 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 high school, he got signed to his first record deal after joining the band, Manchild. In the 1980s, he broke into the music world as guitarist and songwriter for the R&B band, The Deele.

 Artistry:

Over the past five decades, he released three consecutive multi-platinum albums: Tender Lover (1989), featuring the #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.”

In 2014, he collaborated with Toni Braxton and released the GRAMMY Award-winning album

Love, Marriage & Divorce.

Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Mary J Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, NSYNC, Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, and countless others.

Most recently Babyface won his 13th GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song for “Snooze” by SZA. Additionally, Babyface received nominations in two other categories: Best R&B Album (Girls Night Out,) Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Simple” by Babyface & Coco Jones off his Girls Night Out album.)

On July 15th, 2023 Babyface’s latest single “As a matter of fact” reached #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. The song is his first #1 solo single in 26 years. Download / stream “As a matter of fact” HERE.

On October 21, 2022 Babyface released his new project, Girls Night Out, which features the legendary singer/songwriter/producer’s collaborations with some of today’s brightest female R&B stars, including Ella Mai, who is heard on the first single, “Keeps On Fallin’,” which was GRAMMY nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance and took the #1 spot on the Mediabase R&B chart. He also teams up with Ari Lennox; Kehlani; Queen Naija, Coco Jones; Tiana Major9; Tink; Baby Tate; Muni Long; Amaarae; Sevyn Streeter & Tkay Maidza; Doechii and Angie Martinez & Lala Anthony. Download / stream Girls Night Out HERE.

Awards:

Babyface has contributed to over 800 million records sold and over a billion records streamed. He has produced and written 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number 1 R&B hits, and 16 number 1 pop hits. In addition to winning a total of 13 GRAMMYs, he has been nominated 83 times.

Throughout his career, Babyface has won the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year trophy seven times, received a total of 51 BMI Awards, as well as 4 American Music Awards, 5 Soul Train Awards, and 5 NAACP Image awards.

He also produced and co-wrote the Oscar winning song “When You Believe,” sung by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Achievements:

In 2024, he was inducted into The Apollo Walk of Fame and received the inaugural Legacy Award from The Apollo Theater.

In 2017, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2013, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1999, Kenny’s home state Indiana named a highway after him.

Charity:

Babyface is a passionate philanthropist, actively supporting the Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Larry Ruvo’s “Keep Memory Alive,” and Stand Up for Cancer.

In 2023 he partnered with the non-profit organization Music Will to launch music programs in 20 schools in his hometown of Indianapolis, IN.

In the past, he has also lent his support to FasterCures, VH-1 Save the Music, United Negro College Fund, the David Foster Foundation, and the Mike Milken Prostate Cancer Foundation.