Kevon Edmonds

In fall 1999, Edmonds' solo debut 24/7 was issued on BMG. The title track single was an instant add on urban radio. The Indianapolis, IN, native is one of the album's executive producers along with Babyface and Kevin Evans. Besides Babyface, the A-list production talent on the album includes Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey), Daryl Simmons (Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton), Tim & Bob (TLC, Jon B, Monica), and newcomers Damon Thomas, Tommy Sims, Marc Harris, Robin Thicke, Greg Curtis, and Angelo Ray. The musical support includes keyboardist Greg Phillinganes (Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker), bassist Nathan East (Fourplay, Barry White), drummer Ricky Lawson, and guitarist Michael Thompson. Babyface duets with his brother on the sumptuous ballad "A Girl Like You."

Edmonds grew up listening to "the good stuff": Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, the Temptations, and other classic soul singers. Too shy to sing in the church choir, Edmonds sang to himself "for my own satisfaction" until his teenage years when he joined his buddies in the junior high and high school choirs. While attending Indiana University, Edmonds' musical ambitions began to blossom. The I.U. Soul Revue, an extensive course on music theory, performing, and the music business, made him seriously consider music as a career. Edmonds, who started the group After 7 with brother Melvin Edmonds and I.U. classmate Keith Mitchell, would do occasional R&B shows in local clubs. After graduation, the trio worked nine to five jobs. Meanwhile, L.A. and Babyface had signed a production deal with Virgin Records and were scouting around for acts to produce. After they chose to work with their relatives, there was a period where the singing trio wasn't sure of the producers' intent, as they waited for L.A. and Babyface to finish other projects. But once things started rolling, they really started rolling.