Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is a pillar of R&B. As a producer and songwriter, Babyface’s discography includes hits for powerhouse vocalists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Stevie Wonder.
LISTEN NOW: Broken Record - Babyface
On the latest episode of Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond, Babyface talks with Justin about the childhood crushes he had that continue to inspire his songwriting today. He also plays a song he wrote in high school that he considers one of the best songs he's ever written and reveals how he was on the verge of making new music with Whitney Houston a month before she died.
While discussing how he “learns things” like piano and guitar “to support my songwriting,” just as he did when writing his very first song “Here I Go Falling In Love Again,” which he wrote for a girl, “cause I was like in love,” Babyface admitted that even at the young age of 10, 11, 12 making music “was purely kind of an escape.” Adding, “I didn’t think they were gonna go anywhere, but that was the drive.”
“As a kid that was always falling in love and thinking that I was in love,” Babyface noted, referencing his very first song, “Here I Go Falling In Love Again.” Revealing that the second song he wrote, about the same girl, two years later after she broke his heart, was called “The Bitter Taste of Life.” Always pulling from his emotions, Babyface is inspired by childhood crushes and teenage feelings even today.
Babyface went on to detail his journey from his high school band Tarnished Silver to joining Manchild, and breaking out as a singer as part of The Deele. Discussing his musical influences which heavily includes Earth Wind & Fire, and sharing the story behind “the best song” he’s ever written, plus so much more. To listen to it all, press play on the entire interview.
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