Melvin Edmonds, co-founder and lead singer of the R&B group After 7, passed away on Sunday following a long illness. He was 65.
Melvin is pictured center with After 7 members Keith Mitchell, left, and his brother Kevon Edmonds, right. Melvin and Kevon are siblings of GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.
Melvin Edmonds’s death was confirmed by his son, also named Melvin Edmonds. His cause of death was not disclosed. He reportedly suffered a stroke in 2011 that left him partially paralyzed on one side.
After 7 was founded in 1987 by Kevon, right, and Melvin, center, who brought in their friend Keith Mitchell, left. Melvin’s son Jason Edmonds later joined the group after his father quit due to the stress of the music industry.
According to Kevon, Melvin battled a serious drug addiction and he had an addictive personality that caused him to self medicate to relieve the pressure of everyday life.
“Melvin grew tired of the business. There are no checks and balances or safety nets or protections for you in this business,” Kevon said. “He still loves to sing but it’s the extra stuff that he reached his limit with.”
Melvin is survived by his four children: Melvin, Jason, Chris, and Courtney.
After 7 is best known for their hit singles “Heat of the Moment” and “Ready Or Not” off their eponymous debut album in 1989. “Ready Or Not” was the group’s highest charting single at number 7.
The debut album was written and produced by members of the R&B group The Deele – L.A. Reid, Babyface, Daryl Simmons, and Kevin “Kayo” Roberson. The Deele is best known for their hit single “Two Occasions.”
L.A. and Babyface, along with business partners Simmons and Kayo, went on to write and produce many hit records for R&B artists under their boutique label LaFace Records, based in Atlanta.


Photos by Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Images, Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
RIP
Fly High ………. Such talent!!!!!! Love their music ……. Good tunes ……
So glad I grew up when I did … cause to watch and hear these guys ….. made late 80’s and 90’s everything ……. their music will always be rotation …….. Everlasting music……. <3
“I’ll give you my heart. My soul. My time
My love is a fountain. I will be your earth”
-Ready or Not
I didn’t know what they were talking about then but I was pouring my heart out singing this song into my hair brush. We lost a true talent RIHP.
RIP Melvin … I was just talkin about these guys while partying with their cousin Friday night ?
Awww, Mayne…I’m still jammin to “Ready or Not”! My kids even know that song.
How sad. I didn’t know he hated the business…but I thank him sooo much for the music! I’ll always love After7.
RIP Melvin.
I do dance moves too.
Were they from?
This used to be my group. I still listen to Can’t Stop. RIP ?
The end of so many eras, man. Condolences to the Edmonds family.
Rest in peace and prayers sent to the family, I was watching their Unsung today so sad. ?
RIP Melvin.
?I’ll give you the sun, the wind, the moon, the stars, and the mountains. I’ll give you the world…and all that you reach for, and even more. Cause girl I love you more than you will know…and that’s for sure. ?RIP Melvin
RIP Brother. I Love After 7 And his son sounds JUST like him live.
I had no idea. Ready or Not just came on my Teena station earlier. Like about 2 hours ago. RIP. Awe man.
RIP Melvin. I’ll always be a fan. ?
RIP Melvin…he always had a sex appeal about him to me.
RIP
Jeez I loved After 7?
Rip. Thank you for your contribution to R&B music.
Great songs. The Deele’s were the JeriCurl crew like Ready for the World. People & Groups loved S Curls back in the 80’s
That Kevon Edmonds solo CD was ERRYTHANG! I still listen to it. RIP Melvin.
And my favorite .
After 7 was underrated they albums are good
He looks like Kenny, his brother. He almost sounds like him. Sad, he was only 65. But like it stated, he grew tired the business.
Yes those were all great memories. I also loved TROOP. TROOP, After, Tevon Campbell songs and Secret Garden those were all staples of the Quiet Storm.
Those were the days of GREAT lyrics. About love and sincerity. I don’t know what the fvk these youngsters are singing these days.
I honestly thought he died a long time ago. He’s been gone from the limelight for a long time.
He was a great singer!! May he RIP ??
Omg! It’s funny how certain things can trigger forgotten memories:
I remember my senior skip day and the guy played this song …Ready or Not (over and over) !! We were so in love …. ??
I have that CD too…I love it!!
One of my favorite groups. Growing up we stayed trying to sing their songs..RIP
and keep making babies.
…gimme s3x wit no commitment baby!
Wow. this is heart breaking, gone to soon…..
Psalm:23
Mine too
After 7 – Nights Like This. That was my jam! Sorry to hear he died. ?
Ready or Not…woo, my jam.
That man can sing ? RIP
Baby I’m for real ?
And keep marrying 20something models. Life’s not fair .
Ahhh…Good days.
That album was sooo good.
Sad!
He’s at peace now, so many will remember him for his timeless music that was so unique, smooth and soothing!
Melvin Edmonds musical legacy lives on!
Peace and Blessings to his family and friends!
???And if you really wanna know the truth about it, girl I just can’t live without it, and that’s why I’m professing my love to yoooouuuuu baby ??? ???
So much musical goodness graced us with their gifts and now we have catalogues of great memories. Rest on…Condolences to the family. Thank you for the years of listening pleasures.
Do you automatically think all people who aren’t active in the biz are dead, or was it just this guy?
One of my favorite groups sad ?
Take off seven more years from the 20somethings and you’ll be spot on.
RIP??
LOVE their music!
Mine too!
RIP Melvin. I loved Ready or not. Babyface once said he thought his brothers sung better than him. Shout out to my parents for always playing good music like this during me & my siblings childhood.
I got to meet him in 1999 when he was promoting it, still have my signed copy of it.
Awww!… I love After 7 and Ready Or Not is definitely one of my FAVORITE slow jams!… RIP Mr. Melvin Sir!
65?! Damn. Rip
I’d forgotten this song til the beat dropped and it all came flooding back….?*I’ll give you sun, the rain , the stars, the moon and the mountains*?
……ahhh, the days when R&B still had substance and tact and we weren’t all THOTS and ho’s and bitches….sad, I kno babyface gotta b devastated.
I miss real music playing on the radio but thankfully me and my husband still put on our Jodeci Jahiem and Dru hill cds on Sunday to clean house
Off topic anyone heard Tyga was married to Tristan babys mother they really like to keep it in the family
RIP Melvin. Thank you for giving us true and real music! Till this day After 7 were making hits.. “If I”and “too late” are my new joints to add to the playlists! May you sing with the choir of angels!
RIP…Melvin Edmonds….He had been sick for a long time…a stroke in 2010…I don’t know if he ever fully recover….But the industry did After 7 so wrong…they had the voice but their age stopped them from getting a record deal.
I play Ready or Not all the time. RIP Sir.
RIP I loved their music. Them and Take 6.
RIP. After 7 is a great group.
Oh wow. Their Unsung episode was so good. I had no idea that they were a group of older guys.
According to reports he had several strokes
“Babyface”was a musical genius….RIP Melvin….yew can good music. It’s 2019 and folks still listening to music from the 90’s. I love ?? After 7 and Milestone “I care about you”
RIP Melvin Edmonds. Enjoyed After 7’s music!
Take 6 with a young Brian McKnight was the bomb!
Wasn’t it? I still play it to this day. Might play it in the office this morning??
You know many babies was made from that RFTW album. Deep inside your love & Tonight were the jam!
Indianapolis
RIP……when R&B was good….
Rest in peace, After 7 made some of the best RnB jams- so many are passing now. Those Edmonds are really talented. Off to play some After 7…
Aww RIP! I still bump After 7 to this day! Cant stop, ready or not and heat of the moment is on all my playlists.
Had no idea he was 65. Damn I miss r&b so much it hurts. Was just listening to Can’t Stop the other day. Rest in Heaven Mr. Edmonds.
I didn’t know their age was a factor but I was too young back then to know anyway.
Groups from the Midwest had to get famous to escape the cold l0l!
This is heart breaking! ? Not only is After 7 one of my first concerts & favorite groups, I was really looking forward to seeing them on the old school touring circuit. Acts that have been forgotten like them, The S.O.S. Band, and Loose Ends have been given new life thanks to The City Winery!
Melvin, I’ll never forget the way y’all KILLED it on the “Please, Hammer. Don’t Hurt Em!” Tour! Rest easy Brotha ??
RIP
Ready or Not is still one of my favorite songs!