Featured Ghostwriters from the 1990s
Babyface
Kenneth Brian Edmonds, who is professionally known as “Babyface,” is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Edmonds was born on April 10, 1959, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has six brothers, including Kevon and Melvin Edmonds, who are members of the R&B group After 7. He got his music career started by backing up funk performer, Bootsy Collins, who coined him with the term “Babyface.” He also joined funk bands, such as Manchild in 1977 and Deele in the early 80’s. As members of the groups, Edmonds worked alongside Daryl Simmons and L.A. Reid, respectively. Edmonds is famous for not only writing his own songs during his music career, such as “Where Will You Go,” “When Men Grow Old,” “What If,” “Well Alright,” “Sunshine,” “She,” “Never Keeping Secrets,” and “The Loneliness,” but also songs for other famous artists. Artists that he has worked with include, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Boyz II Men, Aretha Franklin, Pebbles, Kelly Clarkson, Bobby Brown, Jay-Z, Usher, NSYNC, Colbie Caillat, Paula Abdul, Pebbles, P!nk, etc. Famous songs that were ghostwritten by Edmonds that have gone platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart include: “I’ll Make Love To You” by Boyz II Men, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (From "Waiting To Exhale")” by Whitney Houston, “Not Gon' Cry (From "Waiting To Exhale")” by Mary J. Blige, and “A Song For Mama” by Boyz II Men. Edmonds co-founded LaFace records in 1989 with former Deele band member, L.A. Reid, and Soda Pop Records in 2009 to help other artists write lyrics, write music, and have their music distributed. His music career includes having written and produced over 26 number-one R&B hits and winning 11 Grammy Awards. He was ranked number 20 on New Musical Express's “50 Of The Greatest Producers Ever” list.
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly, who is professionally known as R. Kelly, was born January 8, 1967 in the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Growing up poor, the African American male grew up to be a prominent singer, songwriter, and record producer. Kelly began performing in the late 80’s and debuted with the R&B group Public Announcement in 1992. When he became a solo artist, he was best known for putting out sexually-inspired singles, such as “Bump N’ Grind” and “Your Body’s Callin,” and albums such as R.. His sexual nature that was showcased in his music was also showcased in his personal relationships. Kelly secretly, and illegally, married the 15-year-old singer, actress, and model at the time, Aaliyah Haughton, who he was helping produce music. During the time that his Best of Both Worlds album was set to come out, a video surfaced of Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl and was charged with 21 counts of child pornography-related offenses. He was also the first musician to play professional basketball. From 1997-1999, he played for the United States Basketball League’s Atlantic City Seagulls. Songs that he wrote and recorded include “Africa,” “All I Really Want,” “All My Fault,” “Apologies of a Thug,” “Backyard Party,” “I Believe I Can Fly,” “If,” “Ignition,” “Religious Love,” etc. Kelly has written and produced songs and albums for other prominent artists as well such as Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Ty Dolla $ign, Changing Faces, Nick Cannon, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, etc. Famous songs that were ghostwritten by R. Kelly that have gone platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart include: “You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson and “G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.” by Changing Faces. His music career has earned him 3 Grammy Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 1 BET Awards, 6 NAACP Image Awards, 11 Soul Train Awards, and numerous Billboard Music Awards.
L.A. Reid
Antonio Marquis Reid, who is professionally known as L.A. Reid, is an American record executive, record producer, A&R representative, and panelist. He was born June 7, 1956 and has served as the chairman and CEO of Epic Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group, and the president and CEO of Arista Records. He was the founder and CEO of Hitco Music Publishing and the co-founder of LaFace Records with producing partner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. His music career began as a drummer with the American R&B band, Pure Essence and 1980s R&B band, The Deele. Reid was also a judge on the U.S. version of the British television singing competition The X Factor from 2011-2012. He is heavily involved in may philanthropy projects, such as bringing art programs to urban youth, UNICEF, cancer research, etc. Although not a recording artist himself, he works to write and produce songs for other artists. Some of these artists include Bobby Brown, Paula Abdul, Avril Lavigne, Mariah Carey, Babyface, Whitney Houston, The Boys, After 7, Johnny Gill, Bell Biv Devoe, Aretha Franklin, OutKast, Usher, Cee-Lo Green, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, The Jackson 5, etc. Songs that were co-ghostwritten by L.A. Reid that have gone platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart include: “Baby-Baby-Baby” by TLC (alongside L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons) and “End Of The Road (From "Boomerang") by Boyz II Men (alongside BabyFace and Daryl Simmons).
Daryl Simmons
Daryl Simmons is an R&B songwriter, musician, record producer and music consultant who is best known for his association with the LaFace Records production duo of L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Being from Indianapolis, Indiana and going to the same high school as Edmonds, the two became close friends. They both were members of the Indianapolis R&B group, Manchild. After Manchild’s breakup, Edmonds joined L.A. Reid’s band, The Deele, in the early 1980s. After Reid and Edmonds relocated to Atlanta to co-found LaFace Records in 1989, Simmons soon joined them. In the mid 90's as the trio’s collaborative efforts began to slow, Simmons formed his own company, Silent Partner Productions, and started working on solo projects. Has worked with artists such as Elton John, Destiny's Child, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Mýa, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, Dru Hill, Kevon Edmonds and 98 Degrees, and more. Songs that were co-ghostwritten by L.A. Reid that have gone platinum according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart include: “Baby-Baby-Baby” by TLC (alongside L.A. Reid and Babyface) “End Of The Road (From "Boomerang") by Boyz II Men (alongside L.A. Reid and Babyface), “In My Bed” by Dru Hill, and “Never Make A Promise” by Dru Hill.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19, 1946 and is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist, known primarily for her work in country music. From Locust Ridge, Tennessee, she was of of 12 children growing up on a poor farm. At 12 years old, she was appearing on Knoxville television; at 13 she was recording on a small label and appearing on the Grand Ole Opry. Prominent songs she has written and recorded herself include “Joshua,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Touch Your Woman,” “9 to 5,” and “Jolene.” Parton is considered an interesting ghostwriter for this R&B/Hip-Hop era because of her country background. In 1973, she recorded “ I Will Always Love You” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart twice. It first reached number one in June 1974, and then in October 1982, with her re-recording on the soundtrack of the movie version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Whitney Houston recorded her version of the song for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. Houston's single spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also holds the record for being the best-selling single by a woman in music history. Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" re-entered the charts in 2012 after her death, making it the second single ever to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in separate chart runs. Parton is considered a ghostwriter because more award recognition was given to Houston, even though she gets financial profits from the song. Parton's music career includes 25 Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. She has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, a record for a female artist (tied with Reba McEntire). She has 41 career top-10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. She has garnered nine Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, ten Country Music Association Awards, seven Academy of Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and is one of only seven female artists to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award. Parton has received 47 Grammy nominations. In 1999, Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has composed over 3,000 songs and has appeared in many films such as Steel Magonolias, Joyful Noise, Rhinestone, and Straight Talk.