The Story
Keyboardist, singer and songwriter Don Blackman grew up in Jamaica, Queens, in a house where music lived on every floor. His mother, his aunt and several uncles played piano or saxophone. When his Pentecostal grandparents were home, it was gospel. When they left, he remembered, the first floor was jazz, the second floor was R&B and the basement was classical. That mix, he said, is why he could play so many styles authentically.
The first record he bought with his own money was James Brown's "Cold Sweat." His first concert, at 17, was saxophonist Charles McPherson with Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums.
Funkadelic's "Knee Deep" holds a special story. He played it for hours at his cousin's house until his cousin begged him to stop. Later, at Funkadelic's show at the Apollo, the band recognized him, brought him in, and he ended up on stage playing "Knee Deep" with them.
Don also talked about Earth, Wind & Fire's "After the Love Has Gone," George Duke and Michael Jackson. For him, music was simply life.
In Don Blackman's Words
“Music is life. Music is emotion. Music is spiritual. Music is guidance. Music is heart.”
Don Blackman
“Music is universal.”
Don Blackman
On the Playlist
- Funkadelic – "Knee Deep"
- James Brown – "Cold Sweat"
- Earth, Wind & Fire – "After the Love Has Gone"
- George Duke
- Michael Jackson – "Another Part of Me"
Questions & Answers
What was Don Blackman's first concert?
Don Blackman told StarPower Collective his first concert, at 17, was saxophonist Charles McPherson with Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums.
