Babyface Net Worth
With a net worth of $80 million, Kenneth Edmonds, better known to his fans as Babyface was inspired to become a musician after the death of his father from lung cancer when Edmonds was in the eighth grade. At that time he dealt with his shyness by composing song lyrics.
Career Beginnings
Though Babyface’s career began in the 1970s when he performed alongside Bootsy Collins, the man responsible for nicknaming him Babyface, it really kicked off in the 1980s. In 1983 he co-wrote Slow Jam,a song that was then recorded by Midnight Star, an R&B band. The album the song was included on went double platinum.
Song Writer/Producer
After gaining notoriety for Slow Jam, Babyface went on to write songs for Sheen Easton, Bobby Brown and Paula Abdul, among others. He then went on to co-found LaFace Records alongside his writing and producing partner, Antonio Reid. Some of the musicians that subsequently signed with the label include Toni Braxton, Usher and TLC. Babyface wrote most of the songs that appeared on Toni Braxton’s first and second albums. He also wrote the songs for TLC’s CrazySexyCool album. No album by a female band has ever sold more copies.
During the 1990s Babyface wrote hit sings for Whitney Houston and Boys II Men. He co-wrote an album with Madonna and the song “Change The World,” which he and Eric Clapton wrote for the soundtrack to the John Travolta movie Phenomenon.
Movie Producer
By the middle of the 1990s Babyface and Tracy Edmonds, his wife at the time, launched Edmonds Entertainment Group in order to begin producing movies. They went on to produce Soul Food in 1997 and Josie and the Pussycats in 2001. They also produced the soundtrack album for The Prince of Egypt. In addition to producing music and movies they also produced a reality series for the BET network.