Last night, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds performed at B.B. Kings in New York City. When I set up my photo pass earlier in the week, I had no idea that there would be a profoundly emotional moment during the show.
Since Babyface is a talented singer, songwriter, and entertainer, I expected to have a great time and was not disappointed. But about halfway through, he sat down on a stool and his crew brought out stands with pages of lyrics and music printed on them. The band was obviously breaking away from the normal set list.
And then he said it. “Let’s take a moment to remember the King of Pop.”
Of course, he was referring to Michael Jackson, who died just two days earlier.
After the applause subsided, Babyface went on to explain how he was moved by Jackson’s music at a young age and had the honor of working with and befriending the man later in life.
He then performed his rendition of an eerily appropriate song, “Gone Too Soon.”
Jackson wrote the tune in honor of Ryan White, a young boy who died of AIDS in the early 90’s. He performed the song at President Clinton’s inaugural ball in 1993.
Babyface covered it with Stevie Wonder during an MTV unplugged session a few years later.
After he sang the last line at B.B. Kings on Saturday night, he held up his microphone and appeared to be overcome with emotion.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house – including mine.
Michael Jackson certainly was a controversial figure, but he was an icon who will go down in history as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.