b. Donald Blackman, 1st September 1953, Queens, New York, U.S.A.
d. 11th April 2013, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Born in Queens, New York, in 1953, Don's cousin was a close friend of McCoy Tyner, and McCoy played keyboards with one of Don's main influences John Coltrane (who lived less than a mile away).
Additionally, Don's next-door neighbour was saxophonist Charles McPhearson and by the time Don was fifteen he was playing in Charles's band with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes.
twennynine (don in the centre)
During the 70's he was influenced by Herbie Hancock and George Duke, and took to electric keyboards, later playing with Parliament, Funkadelic, and becoming a founder member of Lenny White's group Twennynine.
don blackman - 1982 / listen - 2002
In 1981, his song 'Haboglabotribin' was recorded by pianist Bernard Wright (Don singing lead vocals on the track) for the GRP label, following which GRP signed him for his one album for the label, 'Don Blackman' (1982), including 'Never Miss A Song' and 'Heart's Desire'.
He later played keyboards with Roy Ayers on Roy's album 'You Might Be Surprised' (1985), and with the singer La La.
In 2002, Don returned to recording with a new single release on Expansion Records entitled 'Coming To You, Coming To Me', a tune that features Tonni Smith on background vocal chores.
An album, entitled 'Listen' was released in July 2002 on Expansion Records in the U.K., some 20 years after his debut outing.
The album featured the final recording sessions by the late Weldon Irvine Jnr, a close personal friend of Don's.
Don passed away in 2013 from stage four cancer.
Albums:
Don Blackman (GRP / Arista Records 1982)
Listen (Expansion Records 2002)
