(May 15, 2026) When it comes to the Edmonds family, “smooth” is apparently etched within the DNA: from Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds becoming a one-man hit machine from the 1980s onward to his older brothers, the late Melvin Edmonds and Kevon Edmonds joining Keith Mitchell and regaling dance floors and music charts as the popular R&B trio After 7.
Thanks to his warm, wispy tenor, Kevon has maintained a place in our playlists as both a group member and soloist, which is why he’s one of the few vocalists uniquely qualified to pay homage to the incomparable Sade with his cover of her sultry 1992 hit, “No Ordinary Love.”
Only a fool dilutes or deviates entirely from an established formula, so the moody tempo arrangement remains familiar. Kevon’s timbre and delivery are in the same range as Adu’s, but his approach more achy and vulnerable, whereas Sade’s is baleful, yet ever so chill.
To his credit, Edmonds is pretty faithful to the original rendition, up until he improvises the phrasing towards the end. No matter what your take on his version, most will agree it takes a brave and skilled pro with true vocal agility to even attempt to cover a classic like “No Ordinary Love,” and when it comes to meeting those requirements, like his younger brother Babyface, Kevon has them in abundance. And while his version likely won’t totally replace the original, it’s still be a worthy listen to add to your musical mix as new confirmation that the Edmonds legacy remains a worthy one.
By Melody Charles
