The fact that Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds is playing at Billboard Live makes total sense, since his songwriting and production has dominated the Billboard charts for the past 25 years. With 10 Grammy Awards and a list of collaborators that reads like a who's-who of modern R&B, Edmonds has enough hits to keep the sold-out crowd entertained for hours on end.
The 55-year-old music industry powerhouse takes the stage in a three-piece suit, backed by a band of consummate professionals, and kicks off with "For the Cool in You." This immediately gets a good portion of the crowd on their feet. A smooth R&B jam, the song sets the tone for the evening, allowing Edmonds to warm up his vocals and find his groove. With the second song, 1996 ballad "Every Time I Close My Eyes," that voice is put to work via an amazing display of vocal acrobatics rivaling any of his world-class collaborators.
He may be most famous for working behind the scenes, but Edmonds' solo career is nothing to sneeze at. The first half of tonight's set showcases this with "When I Get Home" and "When I See You Again" showing the crowd why he's most famous for writing ballads. It's not all slow-jams though, as the band kicks into high gear with an energetic instrumental gospel number. Further showing off his versatility, Edmonds straps on his acoustic guitar for an impeccable cover of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain."