- Active: 2000s
- Major Genres: Comedy, Comedy Drama
- Career Highlights: Soul Food, Josie and the Pussycats, Hav Plenty
- First Major Screen Credit: Soul Food (1997)
Biography
Hollywood wunderkind and megamogul Tracey E. Edmonds's list of business titles speaks, by itself, to the producer's seemingly endless array of accomplishments. She not only works as president and COO of Our Stories Films, a movie studio catering to African-American audiences, but functions as president, owner, and CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group, which encompasses both the e2 Records music label and the Edmonds Entertainment film production company. Edmonds's resumé incorporates such urban-themed hits as Soul Food, Punks (one of the first commercial releases about gay African-American males), and the 2007 Who's Your Caddy?, a rollicking comedy about a larger-than-life rapper (Big Boi) who literally storms his way onto a snotty white golf course and takes over.Born in 1967, Edmonds graduated from high school ahead of schedule. She attended Stanford University and majored in psychobiology, but quickly projected an entrepreneurial spirit after an early college graduation, and moved into the real estate and mortgage business. In time, Edmonds became acquainted with music pioneer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds on both personal and professional levels, and after Tracey finished familiarizing herself with all aspects of music and film production, the two co-founded Edmonds Entertainment Group. EEG achieved national fame and success with its breakthrough urban comedy Soul Food (1997), starring Vanessa L. Williams and Vivica Fox, highly acclaimed by the public and press for presenting a more domestic and everyday view of middle-class African-American life. For some reason, the "gangsta" drama Light It Up (1999, which the Edmonds co-produced) reversed this strategy; the producers then broadened their Tinseltown fan base with the female buddy comedy Josie and the Pussycats, based on the popular 1970s animated cartoon. The Edmonds Entertainment series Soul Food (which debuted in 2000 on Showtime) constitutes a small-screen spin-off of the theatrical movie. Tracey Edmonds is also the creator and executive producer of the reality series Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown.
Tracey Edmonds received an appointment to COO and president of Our Stories Films, established by BET pioneer Robert L. Johnson, in September 2006. The label secured an exclusive distribution deal with The Weinstein Company, and Who's Your Caddy? represented its first major release. Edmonds has also netted a host of awards and honors for her accomplishments, including The Tower of Power Award from Turner Broadcasting, the 2005 National Organization for Women's Excellence in Media award, and an honorary doctorate in business from Southern University. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
