Babyface 1997 Interview: Writing Hits for Madonna & Boyz II Men

In this exceptionally rare and deeply intimate January 1997 broadcast of The Dini Petty Show, iconic singer, songwriter, and mega-producer “Babyface” Kenneth Edmonds steps out from behind the studio glass for a rare, full-episode television spotlight. At the time of taping, Babyface was the undisputed mid-90s architect of popular music, having penned historic chart-toppers like Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love to You,” Madonna’s elegant “Take a Bow,” and Eric Clapton’s acoustic masterpiece “Change the World.” Arriving in Toronto just six weeks before walking into the 39th Annual Grammy Awards with a staggering 12 nominations—tying Michael Jackson’s all-time single-year record—a modest Babyface joins host Dini Petty to dissect the anatomy of a perfect melody.

Flanked by a legendary backing band that features musical titans Nathan East and Greg Phillinganes, Babyface radiates a striking, gentle humility. He admits to Petty that he remains incredibly shy, often preferring the sound of everyone else’s voice over his own. The emotional high point of the show arrives when he breaks down the creation of “The Day,” a deeply personal ballad written for his newborn son. In a beautiful twist of art imitating life, Babyface reveals that the track was actually playing in the delivery room the exact moment his son was born. This leads into a poignant discussion about emotional vulnerability and why society dictates that men aren’t supposed to cry, juxtaposed against the joy of receiving a surprise gold record plaque live on the air.

The interview offers a masterclass in the technical craft of R&B hit-making. Babyface pulls back the curtain on his elite collaborative process, detailing what it takes to write for vocal dynamos like Madonna and Boyz II Men, and explaining his core philosophy on why a song’s underlying melody will always carry more weight than its lyrics. He looks back fondly on his own musical genesis, chuckling over his teenage years spent as a self-described “Steevie Wonder clone,” before shifting focus to his expanding film empire—including producing the landmark Soul Food soundtrack alongside Vanessa Williams, which would soon yield the generation-defining anthem “A Song for Mama.”

Unseen since its original mid-90s CTV airing, this immaculate master tape has been meticulously optimized and preserved via the official archive of The Dini Petty Show, protecting a vital, definitive milestone capturing a musical titan at the absolute apex of his creative powers.