Throwback: Happy 67th Birthday, Babyface!

It’s April 2026. We’re at war with Iran. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about birthright citizenship. The global economy is on a slow-burn collapse. Everything is awesome. Oh, and he’s still alive. 

But we still have music, friends and community, y’all. And hopefully JOVM offers a bit of respite in our mad, mad, mad world. 

So while I do focus on new music, there’s always room to celebrate our legends — both living and departed. 

• The Isley Brothers‘ co-founder Rudolph Isley was born 87 years ago on April 1
• Gil Scott-Heron was born 77 years ago on April 1
• The legendary Marvin Gaye was born 87 years ago on April 2
• Bella Union Records founder and label head, singer/songwriter, musician and Cocteau Twins‘ Simon Raymonde celebrated his 64th birthday on April 3
• Jill Scott celebrated her 54th birthday on April 4
• David Roback, one-half of acclaimed and beloved dream pop duo Mazzy Star was born 68 years ago on April 4
• The legendary  Muddy Waters was born 113 years ago on April 4
• Smash-hit producer, songwriter and artist Pharrell Williams celebrated his 53rd birthday on April 5
• Robert Glasper celebrated his 48th birthday on April 6
• Merle Haggard was born 89 years ago on April 6
• John Oates, best known for his work with the blue-eyed soul duo Hall & Oates one of the most commercially successful duos ever, celebrated his 77th birthday on April 7
• Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was born 79 years ago on April 7
• The legendary and incomparable Billie Holiday was born 111 years ago on April 7
• The legendary Biz Markie was born 62 years ago on April 8

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds celebrates his 67th birthday today. As a solo artist, producer and songwriter, Edwards is behind some of the most indelible and important R&B and pop songs ever written. 

TLC’s smash-hit sophomore album, 1994’s CrazySexyCool, which featured material he wrote and produced, was one of the best-selling albums ever, by an American female group. And throughout their collaboration together, TLC sold over 75 million records globally. 

Toni Braxton‘s first two albums, 1993’s self-titled and 1996’s Secrets, which featured mostly Babyface penned songs went on to sell a combined total over 15 million albums. 

Whitney Houston‘s Babyface-produced track, 1990’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” was his first #1 on the Top 40 Charts in the US. 

He also wrote and produced Boyz II Men‘s mega-smash hits 1992’s “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love to You,” both which established records for the longest stay at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. 

He also co-wrote, co-produced and provided backing vocals on Madonna‘s 1994 effort, Bedtime Stories, which featured the #1 hit “Take a Bow.” 

He wrote and produced Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop), as well as the rest of 1995’s Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, which also featured additional hits for Houston, Brandy and Mary J. Blige. 

The list of artists Babyface has written and/or produced is bonkers — and it includes: Bobby Brown, The Whispers, Pebbles, After 7, Johnny Gill, Tevin Campbell, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Faith Evans, Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Michael Jackson, Micheal Bolton, Paula Abdul, Dru Hill, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey and just about anyone else you can think of. 

And he’s one of the few producers to receive three consecutive Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year between 1995-1997. Seriously, between roughly 1987 and 2005, Babyface was the sound of R&B and pop hits. That kind of success is unparalleled. 

Happy birthday, brother.

__

The Joy of Violent Movement is a completely independent and completely D.I.Y. media outlet. Over the course of this site’s 15+ year history, I’ve used my fiercely independent stance to cover music with an eclectic and global perspective that a lot of other publications just don’t have — and will likely never have. 

To that end, I could use your support to continue to keep bringing you my unique global perspective on music. There are a number of ways that you can support this work. 

I’ve been told that some people would prefer to make a one-time donation because it’s easy and less of an obligation. So, if you’re able to make a one-time donation, there’s a donation box below.

Anything you can give is very much appreciated. It can and does make a real difference, y’all. 

I know that a lot of folks are struggling to make ends meet in an uncertain and tumultuous economic climate. So there are other, non-financial ways in which you can support this work. 

You can follow me on the following social platforms:

X/Twitter: @yankee32879 and @joyofviolent 

Instagram: @william_ruben_helms

Threads: @william_ruben_helms

Bluesky: @williamrubenhelms.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

As always, if there are posts that you dig, share them with your friends. The more eyeballs on my work, the better.