/EIN News/ April 12, 2010 Minneapolis – This week the beat on the show does not get any better. World renowned Drummer/phenomenon John Blackwell Jr. who recorded/toured with Pop Icon “Prince” for nearly a decade was a special guest on The Producer’s Corner with Spud Too Tight. They discussed his passion, influences, others he has worked with such as P.Diddy, Justin Timberlake, Patti LaBelle, Cameo, his new CD, the details on how he met Prince, his invitation to jam with Prince Twin Cities at Paisley Park Studios prior to receiving the contract offer, studio sessions, tours and the disciplines it took to work with the Pop legend. Check out this hot show and others on iTunes Podcast or www.spudtootightmusic.ning.com
The Producer’s Corner with Spud Too Tight is one of the hottest and most unique celebrity driven iTunes Podcast to hear a diverse range of Billboard’s chart topping, multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning music producers, composers, arrangers, vocalists and engineers discuss their production techniques, studio equipment/music instrument preferences, influences, genre, song structure, vocal performance/style, background and upcoming projects. In Mid March,The Producer’s Corner with Spud Too Tight was ranked No.1 in Kevo Business.
Edgy R&B/Funk Groove Music Producer/ Composer Spud Too Tight, a prolific keyboardist/drum programmer/engineer has been in the game for nearly 20 years composing and producing that sonic signature music for indie artists, award winning television/radio spots, and Smooth Jazz music for celebrity endorsed PSA’s. He has a four year Publishing/Administration deal with Missing Link Music www.missinglinkmusic.com and is a member of ASCAP.
Since 2000, John Blackwell Jr., has been the sound, funk and fury behind Prince and the New Power Generation and Justin Timberlake and is acknowledged for being a spectacle for the eyes and ears. Blackwell’s slamming tight grooves, popping snare and furiously flamboyant drumstick twirling and cross-arm strokes must be seen to be believed notes Vater Percussion. A major drum manufacturer totally agrees with the masses and brands his name on the Tama JB1365 (John Blackwell) Signature 6.5 series which sells worldwide. Mark Small, a writer from Berklee College of Music states “Prince has called his drummer, John Blackwell “one of the greatest.” That’s high praise from a six-time Grammy Award winner and multi-instrumentalist who is an accomplished drummer himself.”
John Blackwell was raised in a very musical family in Columbia, S.C. His father John Sr., was a very well known professional drummer who performed with acts like The Drifters, The Spinners and Mary Wells. John Jr. got his first drum set at age 3 and was brought to many concerts that came through South Carolina by his father.
In the early 90’s he enrolled in the drum program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts studying under John Ramsay and often performed in Boston at various club venues. In the mid through late 90’s John performed and recorded with the R&B mega group Cameo and also landed a three year contract with the legendary R&B Diva, Patti LaBelle. He recorded for LaBelle’s Grammy Award winning CD, DVD and VHS, “Patti LaBelle-Live One Night Only.” Immediately after his contract with Ms. LaBelle was completed, Pop Icon Legend “Prince” sought after him and secured a mega deal to record and tour with him. This phenomenal opportunity was orchestrated by Larry Graham of Graham Central Station who was also intrigued by his performance.
In late1999, John Blackwell was a part of the entourage tour, all the grand scale tours such as Hit & Run, One Night Alone, where the Prince Live in Las Vegas DVD came from, and Musicology. The tour schedule included Japan, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He played on Prince’s instrumental album N.E.W.S. in 2003, which was nominated for a Grammy. John has been performing and recording with Prince for nearly a decade and is currently on call for the Pop Icon. He is also looking forward to working with other multi-platinum recording artists in the industry.
John Blackwell has conducted clinic tours worldwide in Australia, Europe, Singapore, Trinidad to the Caribbean demonstrating techniques from his famous DVD Technique, Grooving, and Showmanship. He released a phenomenal multi-genre CD called the John Blackwell Project which came together after the 2008 Buddy Rich Memorial Concert to create a stellar album with a truly unique and varied collection of innovative fusion tunes, the basic tracks for 4Ever Jia were recorded at Drum Channel in Oxnard, California. The album’s influences are drawn from Funk, Fusion and Jazz, something for everyone and some tunes that will have you singing in no time. visit: www.johnblackwellproject.com
Monica Anders
PR Strategist
entertainmentpr.anders1@gmail.com