He's Got That Whip Appeal
Recording artist and r&b legend "Babyface" tells the story of his rise to success.
By Josh B. Wardrop
Berklee.edu correspondent
December 21, 2007
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| Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds talks about the recording industry. |
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| Photo by Phil Farnsworth |
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It's not every day—even at Berklee—that a 10-time Grammy winner with more than 125 Top 10 hits as a producer, songwriter, and performer pops in for a chat. But that's what a group of more than 100 students experienced when chart-topping r&b legend Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds dropped by the David Friend Recital Hall for a free-form discussion with some young performers hoping to make their own mark on the music industry.
"No questions, please," Edmonds joked as he took the stage with his musical director Rob Lewis, a Berklee alumnus. Edmonds—whose talents have helped craft hit records for the likes of Eric Clapton, Madonna, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and TLC—admitted that he was nervous about his first-ever clinic. But any jitters Edmonds may have had were well-hidden as he quickly hit his stride, highlighting his common bond with the audience of aspiring and practicing musicians.
"I was wondering what I might say," Edmonds told the group, which mostly included Berklee students, but also alumni, City Music program students, faculty, and administration. "And then I just thought about being here because of my love of music—that connects me to all of you."
The recording artist spent close to two hours sharing warm, personal, and often hilarious anecdotes about his childhood and his musical development. He confessed that to this day, the most poignant love songs he writes are informed by his junior high heartbreaks ("I still think about the days of puppy love . . . how pure and intense it is."), and that it was a Jackson 5 show at the Indianapolis State Fair in the early 1970s that opened his eyes to what music could be.
"I was shaken by it," he recalled. "They moved me so much that I sat there and cried. I couldn't believe how it felt."
Berklee alumnus Mike Gaskins '93—a professional musician and film scorer—didn't hesitate when a former professor invited him to come see Babyface. "As a songwriter, he's been a tremendous influence, and I think it's great that he came to Berklee so that the students can ask questions from someone who made it the right way. [Edmonds] seems to understand the responsibility musicians have to pass our knowledge onto the next generation."
In response to a student question about the importance of networking, Babyface recommended fostering connections with other musicians early on, but also cautioned, "All the networking in the world won't do any good if your product's not good. So be the best at what you do. Be critical of your own music—it's hard, but it's the best thing you can do."
Christine Barut-Smith, a second semester performance major who asked the networking question, was thrilled to have the chance to get personal advice from a musical idol. "I've wanted to meet him since I was 15," she said. "A clinic like this is invaluable—he's inside the business, and the advice he can give us is so helpful. Coming to Berklee, getting access to musicians like this—it puts you right in the center of that world."
Babyface and Lewis also thrilled the crowd with a guitar-and-piano rendition of one of the singer's biggest hits—"When Can I See You Again?"—offering a musical appetizer for Babyface's main course: his performance that night at the Berklee Performance Center.
Currently riding high with the success of his new album Playlist—a disc devoted mostly to covers of 1970s love songs—Edmonds likewise encouraged the students in attendance to embrace music from the past, even as they try to create the sounds of the future. "There's so much great music to learn from. Listen to Elton John, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, and the Stones. Make them part of your playlist, and you'll have a wider background to inspire you."
Mario Guthrie, a second-semester student double majoring in songwriting and music business/management, lauded Babyface as a huge personal influence—in fact, Guthrie (a native of Jamaica) had recently arranged the singer's 1990 hit "Whip Appeal" into a dancehall number for a class. "It's an amazing experience to meet him in person," said Guthrie. "I've seen him perform live, but never thought I'd have the chance to get his insight into the industry. I think he gave the students here today some hope that they can succeed if they seize opportunities."
Berklee President Roger H. Brown, who attended the clinic, said of Edmonds, "Obviously, Kenny is a very genuine and sensitive artist, which comes through in his stories and his music. [His being here] is what makes Berklee so unbelievably special—the chance to have that kind of up-close access to such a great performer."
The event ended with a special honor for Edmonds: Berklee will be adding a new course, The Music of Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Edmonds, who was presented with a copy of the new course curriculum, was visibly moved by the honor.
"This is overwhelming," said Edmonds. "I feel like now I've finally gone to college. I've had a great career, and didn't think things could get much bigger and better, but they certainly have now."
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Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds performs at a clinic with his musical director and Berklee alumnus Rob Lewis.
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Photo by Phil Farnsworth
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Josh B. Wardrop is a Boston-based freelance writer and editor.
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