Babyface Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

R&B singer, songwriter and music producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who has collected 10 Grammy Awards and has penned or produced tunes for artists ranging from Whitney Houston to Michael Jackson to John Mellencamp, received the 2,508th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday.

The ceremony near the W Hollywood hotel came about a month before the release of his duets album with Toni Braxton, titled "Love, Marriage & Divorce."

Usher, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Antonio "L.A." Reid were among those joining Edmonds at the ceremony

Edmonds, 54, was born in Indianapolis and began writing songs while in high school. He was nicknamed "Babyface" by Bootsy Collins, with whom he performed as a teen.

He was a member of the groups Manchild and The Deele, which also included Reid. He penned the song "Slow-Jam" for the R&B group Midnight Star, giving him one of his first major songwriting credits. He went on to write and produce for performers including Paula Abdul, Bobby Brown and Sheena Easton, then co-founded LaFace Records with Reid, featuring artists such as TLC and Braxton.

Edmonds has produced and written music for a host of R&B and pop greats, earning him three Grammys for producer of the year, from 1995-97.   

-City News Service