Toni Braxton "I Don't Want To"

R. Kelly is responsible for everything in Toni Braxton's successful ballad "I Don't Want To". While Braxton handled lead vocals, R. Kelly handled background vocals, instruments and mixing.

Toni Braxton "How Could An Angel Break My Heart?"

The dynamic duo of Kenny G and Babyface made appearances in two hit songs from 1997: Toni Braxton's somber "How Could An Angel Break My Heart?" featured Kenny's saxophone and Babyface's soothing voice while and Babyface's "Every Time I Close My Eyes" also included the saxy sounds of Kenny G (accompanied by Mariah Carey).

Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart"

With new owners and a looming format change to pop-dance, 100.3 WPNT-FM started spinning dance versions of certain current songs when I worked there during the fall of 1996. Along with a remix to "Missing" from Everything But the Girl, the Adult Contemporary station mixed in a dance version of Toni Braxton's popular ballad "Un-Break My Heart". Ultimately, WPNT found another set of owners in 1997 (Bonneville) and "switched" formats. The station re-branded itself "Windy 100" -- a Mainstream Adult Contemporary format.

Toni Braxton "Another Sad Love Song"

"Another Sad Love Song" played that March morning in 1998 when Toni Braxton walked onto the set of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Braxton was on the show to discuss, among other things, her bankruptcy.  Having sold more than 20 million albums, no one could comprehend Braxton's money woes...including Oprah.  Oprah questioned Braxton's spending habits and accountability (Oprah couldn't comprehend why Braxton needed Gucci silverware).  During Braxton's Behind the Music episode on VH-1, Braxton discussed her interview with Oprah and claimed Oprah was "so frickin' mean" to her and the interview caused people to look down on her.  If you have a spare 18 minutes, take a look and see if Oprah was "so frickin' mean" or just showing her some tough love.  I'm gonna side with Oprah on this one...

Toni Braxton - "Breathe Again"

Toni Braxton can thank Eddie Murphy's dramedy Boomerang for propelling her career -- but she can also thank Anita Baker for being pregnant.  Let's explain: in the '80s, Braxton originally performed with her sisters in a group named The Braxtons.  The five ladies didn't manage to breakthrough, but Toni's solo effort with "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" on the Boomerang Soundtrack happened by chance.  Anita Baker was supposed to sing the ballad, but she was pregnant at the time and recommended Braxton sing the tune.  The result was Braxton's first solo hit and a record deal with Babyface's LaFace Records.  A year later, Toni released her first solo album with "Breathe Again" achieving Top 5 status on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

After 7 - "Ready or Not"

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds had his hands all over R&B music during the late-80s and 90s.  He was part of the '80s group Deele and later became a super producer responsible for hits from Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and Madonna.  Babyface also founded Soda Pop Records and co-founded LaFace Records -- a record label responsible for TLC, Usher, and Toni Braxton.  Heck, the state of Indiana even renamed a portion of I-65 in Indianapolis after the successful singer, songwriter, producer, and Hoosier.  As someone who has driven I-65 numerous times, I am well aware how little there is to see aside from the creepy wind farm.  His brothers, Melvin and Kevon, performed in After 7 and produced the Top 10 hit "Ready or Not" in 1990.

Toni Braxton - "Spanish Guitar"

As a young radio entrepreneur in the early-2000s, I spent lots of time reading about the happenings of the Adult Contemporary format thanks to the industry publication, Radio & Records (or R&R).  I'm not sure why my brain has dedicated space in my memory to retain this, but I remember some person whose username was "Rinaldo" used to complain on R&R's online forum that Adult Contemporary radio stations are missing out because they weren't playing this amazing, blow-your-brains-away power ballad from Toni Braxton called "Spanish Guitar".  The song was OK, but this guy had a real thing for it.  I still recall the day when the AC station where I worked at the time added the song--my first thought was, "Well, this outta shut up that Rinaldo guy.".  Looking back on it, he was probably a record rep who was pimping "Spanish Guitar" looking for adds.

Toni Braxton - "You Mean the World to Me"

How do you get a 16 year old out of bed on a cold January morning?  Easy: set his alarm clock to any Adult Contemporary station and schedule Toni Braxton's "You Mean the World to Me" for 6:00am.  I never missed the bus during that ridiculously cold winter of 1994.  Thanks, Toni!

PM Dawn - "I'd Die Without You"

Right toward the end of Eddie Murphy's relevance as a bona fide movie star, he decided to tackle a more serious role in the movie Boomerang.  The movie was a huge success--helping launch Halle Berry's acting career as well as Toni Braxton's singing career thanks to a soundtrack loaded with radio-ready hits.  Braxton wasn't the only one to benefit from the soundtrack.  PM Dawn struck gold with the ballad "I'd Die Without You".  Its reign on the 1992 Hot 100 lasted 16 weeks.  You couldn't hide from this song on Chicago's B-96 during the summer of 1992, and with good reason.