Dayrl Simmons

Daryl “De-Rock” Simmons (b. Indianapolis, April 11, 1957 - ) – Singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. An alumnus of Indy’s North Central High School, Simmons collaborated musically with close-friend and classmate Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. After playing together in a teenaged band called Tarnished Silver (along with Rayford Griffin), Simmons and Edmonds joined Manchild, a local band that had an R & B charting record “Especially for You” on Chi-Sound Label in 1977. By the end of the 1980s, Simmons was again working with Edmonds, this time at LaFace Records. There, the old Indy pair formed a legendary production team along with Kevin “Kayo” Roberson and Antonio “L.A.” Reid. Mainly through LaFace, Simmons co-wrote and produced for such greats as Aretha Franklin, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Dru Hill, Paul Abdul, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Curtis Mayfield, Aaliyah, Pink, Xscape, and a Few Good Men. In addition, Simmons co-wrote and co-produced Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” which won a Grammy for best R & B song in 1993.