DON BLACKMAN - A Versatile & Captivating Performer!
December 12, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Don Blackman was born in 1953, in Queens, New York, U.S.A.
Don practically grew up in neighborhood of musicians. One of Don’s cousins was a good friend of McCoy Tyner, who played keyboards with one of Don’s idol and major inspiration, John Coltrane, who incidentally also lived nearby.
As fate would have it, Charles McPhearson, a saxophonist was their next-door neighbour. It was not surprising that at age fifteen, he became a member of Charles’ band together with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes.
In 1970 it was Herbie Hancock and George Duke, whose works greatly influenced him. He thus set his sights in becoming an electric keyboard wizard. Afterwards, he joined the Parliament, Funkadelic, and became one of the founding members of Lenny White’s group Twennynine.
In 1981, pianist Bernard Wright recorded his song ‘Haboglabotribin’ with Don doing the lead vocals. The music was produced for the GRP label. Consequently, GRP signed him up in 1982 on to do an album for the label, ‘Don Blackman’’, which includes songs such as ‘Never Miss A Song’ and ‘Heart’s Desire’.
In 1985, Roy Ayers recorded an album, ‘You Might Be Surprised’, where Don played the keyboards with the singer La La in the lead vocals.
After a long lull, Don finally made a come back in 2002 to record a new single, ‘Coming To You, Coming To Me’ under the Expansion Records label. Tonni Smith was the featured background vocals.
In July 2002, the album ‘Listen’ was released, again under the on Expansion Records in the U.K. after a good 20 years from his debut album.
The late Weldon Irvine Jr, a very close personal friend of Don’s was featured in this album.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
The Don Blackman album was a jazz-funk masterpiece, setting the tone for a whole slew of imitators, but it was the real Parliament / Funkadelic style version with funky basslines and uptempo tracks. If you love quiet storm and P-Funk from the Jamaica Queens R&B scene Don Blackman was IT.
I was NOT a Don Blackman fan, but I have to say that this man gets around. Though you may not have been aware of it, you have probably already heard Don’s music plugging Coca Cola, Burger King, Martini and Rossi Asti, Coors Light, Gatorade, Donny Simpson’s Theme Song (Top Thirty), and Western Union, Bulldog Dozer, and Lego commercials. Don has been very active as a jingle writer for TV and radio, so you know this man works for a living.
Don Blackman is one keyboard master whose music I’m sure you’ve heard of time and again. From jingles to pop to soul, he’s the go-to person if you want the best. I especially like his participation in Janet Jackson’s That’s The Way Love Goes remix and Sting’s Brand New Day.
Funky dance music that’s suave and charming…that’s his forte. His music also has been rehashed and recycled countless times. Isn’t that the mark of a terrific musician?
Don Blackman’s musical style is his own. This session musician has worked with a lot of artists in various genres. I’d love to have his job…collaborating with geniuses.
Don Blackman played the keyboard in Mary J. Blige’s Feel Like A Natural Woman. Amazing work! Truly phenomenal.
Hey, Bebe, is that true? Mary J Blige looks incredible in the video for that song - I love her. So thats Don’s work on keyboards - well the guy is amazing, I agree.
Yes, I have Sting’s Brand New Day album and Don plays Hammond organ on several tracks. It’s a real feast for music lovers - because there’s also Stevie Wonder on harmonica, Branford Marsalis on clarinet, James Taylor on guitar and vocals and a host of talented other vocalists and world musicians.