Babyface Lists Legendary Hollywood Studio for $7 Million

Name a recording artist and they’ve probably been holed up in the Hollywood studio of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds at some point in their careers.

That industry history is now up for sale, with the award-winning artist and producer having relocated to Las Vegas. With that move, the property at 751 North Highland Avenue is hitting the market for just under $7 million, or $1,507 per square foot.

Carolwood Estates’ Kevin Booker holds the listing. Booker also worked with Edmonds on finding his Las Vegas studio.

“Kenny is so smart,” Booker said of how Edmonds configured the space. “That [upper level] area was designed for meditation, or there were certain artists that got in a groove and they didn’t want to leave for three or four days. So, somebody like Michael Jackson could stay there for a few weeks and be comfortable.”

751 North Highland Avenue (Photos by Jeremy Spann)

The Hollywood property’s upper level bedroom and meditation area also has a full bath.

The building spans 4,640 square feet and sits on a nearly 6,000-square-foot lot. It’s minutes from the Ovation Hollywood open-air retail center, Hollywood Walk of Fame and other attractions.

“You’ve had everyone from Phil Collins to Aretha Franklin to Mariah Carey and En Vogue [record there]. Everybody that shaped the music industry and is still shaping the industry today,” Booker said.

The list of artists that have worked in the space is extensive and includes Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Barbra Streisand, Pharrell Williams, Toni Braxton, Céline Dion, Fall Out Boy, Lionel Richie and Ariana Grande.

Edmonds has racked up 13 Grammy Awards and 26 number one R&B songs among other accolades during his career.

Booker, who specializes in working with high-profile clients, joined Carolwood last year, after nearly a decade at Westside Estate Agency.

“The education I got from [Westside Estate Agency co-founder] Kurt Rappaport is equivalent to a Harvard degree,” Booker said, adding that Carolwood “is the future” for the local high end.

The agent, who has career sales over $100 million, said business has been steady this year and pointed out that it helps to be part of a brokerage that holds a sizable share of the luxury inventory locally.

In July, Booker was the listing agent, along with Carolwood’s James Harris and David Parnes, on the $28.5 million sale of 755 Sarbonne Road in Bel-Air. Erewhon CEO Anthony Antoci and President Josephine Antoci sold the 15,000-square-foot residence to entrepreneur Dara Mir, husband of “Shahs of Sunset” star Lily Ghalichi. That closing price equated to more than $6 million over what the Antocis paid for the property a year prior.