R&B icon Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is getting the documentary treatment. A feature-length doc film about the 13-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and super-producer is now in production, with backing from HarbourView Equity Partners. Acclaimed director Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two) is helming the project, while Black-ish creator Kenya Barris has signed on as a producer. The film promises an intimate, in-depth look at Babyface’s extraordinary career – from his humble origins in Indianapolis to his reign as one of music’s all-time greatest hitmakers.
Producers say the documentary will explore Edmonds’ songwriting and producing process and revisit the highs and lows of his personal life and five-decade career. Fans can expect to see Babyface reflecting on the creation of chart-topping classics and sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his countless collaborations with music legends. Over the years, the quiet powerhouse wrote or produced smashes for the likes of Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, Madonna, Beyoncé and more – contributing to over 800 million records sold worldwide.
“I’ve often wondered how an unassuming kid from Indianapolis got to where he is today… working with artists and achieving dreams I could’ve never imagined,” Babyface said in a statement about examining his legacy. “This documentary is giving me a chance to go down memory lane… reexamining the highs and lows of my life and career, and discovering where all the songs really came from.” Fellow producer Kenya Barris calls Babyface “one of one – a culture-defining hitmaker whose impact cannot be overstated.” No release date has been announced yet, but with filming underway, this long-overdue tribute to Babyface’s genius is officially on the way.
