Listed below are 5 issues to find out about Adam Blackstone, a famend bass participant set to musically direct the upcoming Oscars.
The 2022 Academy Awards could have one thing a bit completely different for this 12 months’s telecast: an all-star band to underline the present, that includes pianist Robert Glasper, headline-making drummer Travis Barker, legendary lead singer Sheila E., and music director Adam Blackstone.
Right here we break down 5 issues to find out about Blackstone, an all-star bassist and longtime music director and producer who's becoming a member of the Oscars manufacturing crew to make the evening one to recollect.
He’s A Multi-instrumentalist, Songwriter, And Producer
Born in Trenton, New Jersey on December 4, 1982, Blackstone was surrounded by a household of musicians, as he started taking part in drums within the church whereas his father was the organist and his mom sang within the choir. Though he initially had his sights set on being a drummer, he made the swap to bass in third grade and went on to hitch his highschool’s jazz band. After incomes a scholarship to the College of Arts in Philadelphia, he grew to become closely concerned within the soul music scene within the space, happening to be a full time session musician and travelling the world.
Adam then caught the ear of drummer and producer Questlove of The Roots and moved on to producing and dealing on exhibits. His first large gig was Jay-Z‘s Fade to Black present at Madison Sq. Backyard in 2003 in addition to Dave Chappelle’s Block Social gathering in 2005, which finally put him on the map to work with extra A-list artists.
He’s Directed & Performed With A Star-Studded Checklist Of Performers
Adam has served as a Musical Director for a slew of heavy-hitters, together with, however not restricted to Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Jill Scott, Kanye West, and extra.
Exhibiting one other connection to this 12 months’s Oscars, Adam beforehand labored as a artistic advisor on one in all this 12 months’s hostsWanda Sykes‘ Emmy-nominated Netflix particular, Wanda Sykes: Not Regular.
He’s Been On ‘The Voice’ & Has Formed Different Exhibits
Having labored with Maroon 5, Adam then branched out to working as an advisor to The Voice coach Adam Levine throughout season one of many present. Furthermore, the musician has labored on/helped form quite a few different tv broadcasts, together with, in fact, the Oscars, in addition to the Grammy Awards, Tremendous Bowl half time exhibits, the Critic’s Selection Awards, and several other specials for BET, MTV, and VH1. Furthermore, Adam additionally labored as Musical Director for the FOX exhibits The 4 and The Masked Singer and musically directed this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl halftime present which featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.
He’s Been Formally Acknowledged & Rewarded By The Trade
Contemplating his work with a number of musical acts and time within the enterprise, it’s no shock the musician has been acknowledged for his work. Adam has obtained two Primetime Emmy nominations for his work as musical course on two Tremendous Bowl halftime exhibits: the 2018 present starring Timberlake and the 2020 present with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
Adam was additionally granted a Grammy nomination for co-writing Musiq Blackstone‘s “Teachme,” a 2007 nominee for Greatest Rap Music.
He Runs His Personal Manufacturing Firm
Along with his personal musical ventures plus his directing different performers, Adam owns his personal manufacturing firm, referred to as BASSic Black Leisure, LLC together with his spouse, Kaisha Blackstone. The corporate, based in 2008 and infrequently often called BBE, is described on his web site as a “broad based mostly music service firm” that makes a speciality of reside musical manufacturing, helps to attach musicians with each other for networking and collaboration alternatives, and studio manufacturing. Below the moniker, the corporate additionally branched out with the BBE document label in 2013. At present, Kaisha works because the CFO whereas Adam runs the extra artistic facet of the operation.