Don Blackman facts for kids

Don Blackman (born September 1, 1953 – died April 11, 2013) was a talented American musician. He was a jazz-funk pianist, singer, and songwriter. Don worked with many famous artists. These included Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sting, and Mary J. Blige.

Biography

Don Blackman grew up in Jamaica, Queens, New York. As a teenager, he played music with jazz legends like Charles McPherson. He also played with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes.

Early Music Career

In the early 1970s, Don played with big bands. He performed with Parliament/Funkadelic and Earth, Wind and Fire. He also worked with Roy Ayers. Later, he joined Lenny White's group called Twennynine. For this group, Don wrote popular songs like "Peanut Butter" and "Morning Sunrise."

Solo Albums and Hit Songs

In 1982, Don Blackman released his first solo album. It was simply called Don Blackman. This album had hit songs like "Holding You, Loving You" and "Heart's Desire." These songs became very popular in Europe.

Don was also a "session musician." This means he played instruments on other artists' albums. He played for Kurtis Blow, Sting, and Janet Jackson. He helped create the remix for Janet Jackson's song "That's the Way Love Goes."

Famous Compositions and Samples

Don Blackman wrote a song called "Haboglabotribin." This song was used by famous rappers like Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. It was even featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. Another one of his songs, "Morning Sunrise," was sampled in "Dear Summer" by Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z. His song "Holding You, Loving You" was also used by Master P..

Music for TV and Movies

Don Blackman also wrote music for television shows and commercials. He created music for the Fox Network show New York Undercover. He produced and wrote the main theme song for Nickelodeon's show "Gullah Gullah Island." He also produced songs for the MTV Network movie Joe's Apartment.

His Legacy

Don Blackman passed away on April 11, 2013, at the age of 59. He is remembered for his amazing musical talent. His son, Kyle Blackman, is a DJ in New York. His daughter, Irene Blackman, is a jazz-funk singer. She has toured and performed, continuing her father's musical journey.

Music He Made

Here are some of the albums Don Blackman released or helped create:

• Don Blackman (Arista Records, 1982)
• Listen (Expansion UK, 2002)

With C. I. Williams

• When Alto Was King (Mapleshade, 1997)

With Lenny White

• Presents The Adventures Of Astral Pirates (Elektra – 6E-121, 1978)
• Streamline (Elektra – 6E-164, 1978)