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Babyface’s Induction Into The Apollo’s Walk Of Fame Brought Hollywood To Harlem

June 11, 2024

On Monday (June 10), Babyface was inducted into the The Apollo‘s Walk of Fame.

The 13x Grammy-winning singer-songwriter joined the cohort of influential artists who’ve impacted music including Quincy Jones, Prince, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and more recently, 2021 inductee Mary J. Blige, who was among the special guests at this year’s ceremony. Others like Fat Joe, Clive Davis, L.A. Reid, Karyn White, Stephen Hill, and Jess Collins were also in attendance.

“It is an honor, my honor and a pleasure to be here with someone so amazing. I fell in love with Babyface and his voice when I heard ‘Two Occasions.’ I love The Deele, but it was his voice that I was waiting for […] Babyface can look at your life, and have a conversation with you and write a smash,” said Blige in her speech. “Babyface can touch any artist’s life and change it. So I want to thank you for touching my life and changing it with your pen and your presence.” Davis introduced Babyface, who shared personal anecdotes during his remarks which followed a sentiment from Billy “Mr. Apollo” Mitchell, The Apollo’s longtime historian.

“What we did at LaFace Records with TLC, Usher, OutKast, Pink, Toni Braxton—it really made history,” said Davis, who recently turned 92.

“It is only fitting that some of the greatest names in entertainment are here to celebrate one of the greatest names in entertainment,” said President and CEO Michelle Ebanks. “This is a spectacular historic moment here at The Apollo on what is our 90th birthday.”

Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes added, “Always pushing culture forward: that is what we do 365 days out of the year [and have done] for the last 90 years and will continue to do every single day and one of those ways is by our Walk of Fame. Hollywood has a Walk of Fame, but guess what? So does Harlem. The Apollo has a Walk of Fame to recognize our leaders and our legends. That’s what this institution is about, and that’s what today is about.”

When Babyface stepped up to thank his supporters and collaborators, he expressed, “Today’s theme is no one gets here by themselves. Nobody does it alone. Today, this is what ‘making it’ means.” He described Blige as “the most authentic person I know,” adding that she personifies “real love.”

Face called Davis “the guru,” joking, “If we were in ‘Game of Thrones,’ he’d be the Protector of Songs.” Before concluding his remarks, he thanked Darryl Simmons and L.A. Reid, noting that he wouldn’t be here “in the way that [he’s standing here]” if he hadn’t met L.A. Reid. The 65-year-old also thanked God and his girlfriend, Rika Tischendorf, who’s helped in recent years to “guide [his] career and push [him] to new challenges” that he would’ve turned down traditionally.

In addition to his Walk of Fame induction, Babyface is being honored with The Apollo’s inaugural Legacy Award, which will be presented at their annual Spring Benefit on June 11. Usher is also being recognized with this year’s Icon Award.

Check out highlights from Babyface’s induction ceremony below.

(L-R) Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes, Apollo Theater President/CEO Michelle Ebanks and Mary J. Blige 

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