The following excerpts are from a 1997 interview with Molly Meldrum in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Parts of the transcript have been edited for clarity and content.
Babyface: Even as early as eighth grade I had a band. There was one summer where there were auditions - Curtis Mayfield was coming to town - and it was during his hottest time; he had that 'Superfly' record album. And there was a local promoter who said he was going to let local bands open the show. So we were trying to figure out every way in the world to get to this promoter to audition [us] and we did everything trying to find him; and finally we found him at this country club, this black country club which I don't know if they exist anymore, but it was really wild for back at that time. One of the guys that was in the band - his father was a janitor, and he cleaned the place up - he went in and talked to somebody and got us to perform up there. And we weren't in the auditions but we just played in a little room and we sent somebody over to grab someone out of the room to say, just come look at the band and take a peek. He took a look at us and said "They're alright. If they can come back another weekend and play 'cause there is going to be some auditions going on and see how they do." We came back the next weekend, performed, actually made it, and there was probably five / six bands that opened up for Curtis Mayfield.
Molly: How old were you then?
Babyface: 13, 14. But ... nothing came out of it except experience.
Babyface: I met the Jackson 5 at the same time. I figured out a way to meet them. I disguised myself. Well, it's a long story, but I played like I was a journalist and called up this same promoter that brought Curtis Mayfield in town, and told him that my name was Mr. Clayton and I taught journalism in English class and I used a man's voice. I would use Jimmy Stewart's voice, the actor, and told them that my name was [talking with Jimmy Stewart's voice], "Mr. Clayton. I thought it'd be a cool thing, maybe if you could have these kids - the Jackson 5 - if a couple of kids I have in journalism could interview them." And he said, "That sounds interesting. Well why don't you give me your number and let me call back." And I said, "No, don't call me back. Tell you what - one of the kids, Kenny Edmonds, he's a great kid. I want you to call him." And about five minutes later he called my house.
Molly: He actually rang you?
Babyface: Oh yeah. He called my house and I had to stay by the phone 'cause if my brothers or my mom answered the phone, the whole thing would be over 'cause there was no Mr. Clayton. But he called and I said, "What? Mr. Clayton did that for me? Thats great!" And he said, "Let me check into it. I don't know whether it can happen or not, but let me check into it." And about two weeks later he called and said, "Interview is set. You come meet the Jackson 5 at the Hilton hotel, Indianapolis," and I went and did it and I was scared to hell. It was a very scary time, no one believed it. I couldn't tell my Mom what I did it 'cause I didn't want her knowing I'd lied.
Molly: What about your brother, did you tell him?
Babyface: I didn't tell anybody, it was just my friend. And we went down with his sister and took a Polaroid camera and I sat down in front of Michael and l blanked out.
Molly: Does he know this? Have you told Michael?
Babyface: That's what I did ... [stares, laughs]. And he was like, "So how you doing?" And I said, "Okay". I had a letter sweater on and he said, "Is that a college that you're in?". And I go, "No." I had total blank-out. I had no questions. I was just surprised, I was in a room with them. Jermaine and Marlon were layin' on the bed and I was supposed to do the interview with Michael, but there was no interview. But I did think to get a picture, so we took a Polaroid picture. Very excited about the picture. Took the picture on the bus the next morning and said, "I just met Michael Jackson" and people were like, "No you didn't." So I pulled out the picture, showed it to one of the girls on the bus - they started screaming and everybody chasing after the picture, and the next thing you know, the picture was torn up...it was all gone...no evidence. It was like it never happened.
Molly: Back when you were 13, 14, were you a Stevie Wonder fan then?
Babyface: Oh yeah. I was a major Stevie Wonder fan. I was Stevie Wonder. I used to try to talk like him - I was so into it. I'd move my head like him. That's who I wanted to be. If it took being blind to be Stevie Wonder then okay, I'll accept that. Everybody knew I was Stevie, but not because of his music, but because of him as a person, the things he would do. At the Grammy Awards his acceptance speeches - they were never about him, they were always about other people, and life, and he spoke so eloquently, so that's what I wanted to be. When I think of the kid that was so crazy about Stevie. I actually tried the same thing. In fact, I achieved it. I set up an interview with him when I was in high school.
Molly: How many interviews did you do at school?
Babyface: Well, I actually did the Jackson 5 twice, and got Earth Wind & Fire, and The Silvers, and I set it up for Stevie. But the problem was, I was in the choir and we had outside engagements and we would be graded. If we didn't show up, you'd get a bad grade. So Stevie Wonder was in town and there was some church we were performing at with the choir, and the teacher got wind that Stevie was in town and that a lot of people were planning on skipping this performance, and he said, "If anyone skips this, you flunk the class." I couldn't flunk the class. I thought about it. I really considered it, but I figured I'd meet Stevie another time instead of flunking my music class, that was the one thing I was good at.
Years ago, to change the subject, back in 1988, I was on tour with a group called The Deele. We had a gold album, we weren't real popular, we were just getting there. We did this Budfest thing [concert], and Stevie performed. He headlined and we were standing on the side of this stage and I got this word that "Stevie wants you to come and sing, 'I Just Called To Say I Love You' ." The next thing I know, this big security guy comes, "Hey you, come here." He's pullin' me, I'm walkin' and all the guys in The Deele were like, "What's going on?" And then he said, "Stevie wants Babyface to come out and sing." I was like...[blank]...and said, "But I don't know the words". The next thing I know, the song's started up and they are pushing me out there to sing and I'm like, "What am I going to do?" And I said to Stevie, "I don't know the words," and he goes, "Thats okay, I'll just tell you". He's sings his little bit, then he'd lean over and tell me the words as they came and I had to sing. I sucked, but I got to sing with him 'cause I was too nervous to do anything else. But it's the fact that he knew of me out of the The Deele. I wasn't a solo [artist] at the time and he had heard about me and that was amazing. I have that picture of me on the stage with him. It's still one of those memories where you think, 'How did you end up singin' with Stevie Wonder?'