Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Babyface ruled the charts in the ’90s with his smooth R&B sound. He’s also crafted hits for everyone from Madonna and Boyz II Men to Eric Clapton and Fall Out Boy. • Babyface was raised in a family of six in Indianapolis, Indiana. From an early age, he wrote songs to express his emotions and dreamed of a professional career in music. • He got the nickname Babyface—a testament to his youthful appearance—from legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins. • During the early ’80s, Babyface played keyboards in the group The Deele, which is how he met L.A. Reid. They later formed a production duo that scored hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Karyn White, and Johnny Gill. • Babyface and Reid founded LaFace Records in 1989. The label’s roster included icons like TLC, Usher, OutKast, and Toni Braxton. (He would eventually go on to establish his own label called Soda Pop Records in 2009.) • On the strength of the singles “Whip Appeal,” “It’s No Crime,” and “Tender Lover,” Babyface’s 1989 sophomore album, Tender Lover, landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. • In 1993, Babyface won his first Grammys, taking home Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Best R&B Song for Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” The single stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a record 13 weeks. • His 1994 single “When Can I See You” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him the biggest pop hit of his career. • Babyface wrote and produced the soundtrack for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. • His 2014 album Love, Marriage & Divorce was a collaboration with Toni Braxton that earned them both a Grammy for Best R&B Album.