R.I.P. Jazz and funk legend Don Blackman

(April 12, 2013) Jazz and funk legend Don Blackman has died of cancer at age 59. Over a career that spanned four decades, the Queens, New York born Blackman had played with many of the most notable acts in jazz, funk and soul, working as a pianist, singer, songwriter and producer.

At the beginning of the 1970s, Blackman played with Parliament/Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire and Roy Ayers, before becoming a member of Lenny White’s group Twennynine, for whom he penned songs such as the hit “Peanut Butter” and “Morning Sunrise”. He released his self-titled debut solo album in 1982 on Arista Records, including the songs “Holding You, Loving You”, “Heart’s Desire” and “Since You’ve Been Away So Long” that became minor hits in Europe.

Blackman also worked as a session musician, appearing on albums by Kurtis Blow (Kingdom Blow), Bernard Wright, Najee, David Sanborn, Lenny White Roy Ayers, Sting (Brand New Day), World Saxophone Quartet, Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes” (Remix) and Wayman Tisdale. He wrote the composition “Live to Kick It”, which appeared on Tupac Shakur’s album R U Still Down? (Remember Me), “Dear Summer” which appeared on Memphis Bleek’s album “534” featuring artist Jay-Z, and “Holding You, Loving You” which appeared on Master P.’s album “I Got The Hook Up”.

On television, Blackman scored and wrote music for commercials, TV shows, and movies, appearing on Fox Network’s New York Undercover, producing and writing the theme song for Nickelodeon’s show “Gullah Gullah Island” as well as producing songs for the MTV Network movie “Joe’s Apartment.”

He will be missed.

Portions of this article are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Don Blackman

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