On TV, radio or at a live concert at your favorite stadium, the Adam Blackstone sound has certainly permeated your eardrums. Blackstone is a multi-faceted bass player, musician, Emmy winning Music Director, Tony and Grammy award nominated writer and artist, and the musical mastermind behind the live shows of many of today’s biggest artists.
Blackstone was born in Trenton, New Jersey and it was there that he began to hone his craft under the guise of his father, a Jazz musician, who remains one of his greatest musical influences. It was in a church playing drums at the age of 6 that his father discovered he had rhythm and perfect pitch. Once his family moved to Willingboro, NJ which has never been short on talent, he picked up bass in high school and the rest is history.
After earning a scholarship to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, it didn’t take long for Blackstone to become engulfed in the soul music pulse that was flowing through the city at that time. Beginning as a session musician, shortly after his start, he was touring the world.
In 2009 Blackstone partnered with his wife to start company BASSic Black Entertainment, LLC (BBE). BBE is a broad based music service company that specializes in live music production, connecting musicians and studio production. Under the same moniker, they launched the BBE Record label in 2013.
He has served as the Musical Director for acts such as Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, and cultivated the Super Bowl 57 Halftime Show featuring Rihanna. With each new endeavor, the artists he works with become family and fall in love with Blackstone’s easy demeanor and standard for excellence. Blackstone’s TV legacy continues to expand as Music Director and On-screen personality. His expertise has shaped today’s biggest shows including The Oscars, the Grammy Awards, NBA All Star Weekend, NBC’s “The Voice,” numerous BET, VH1 and MTV specials and as the Music Director for the hit Fox show “The Masked Singer” and NBC’s “That’s My Jam.”
In 2022, Adam won his first Emmy award for Outstanding Music Direction for the Super Bowl 56 Halftime Show featuring Dr Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dog, Mary J Blige & Kendrick Lamar. Weeks later, he released his debut album LEGACY, which reached #1 on multiple charts. The lead single, ‘Round Midnight feat. Jazmine Sullivan, received a Grammy Nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance and was selected as President Barack Obama’s favorite songs of 2022. Additionally, the album received two NAACP Image Award Nominations for Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Jazz Album - Vocal. To date, Adam’s “Legacy” projects have earned three Grammy Nominations and can be heard in popular TV shows such as Paramount's “The Chi.” In 2024, Blackstone earned his first Tony Awards nomination for Best Orchestrations for Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway.
Adam Blackstone’s versatility and musical ability keeps him on stages, radios, and screens across the world but his faith and family keep him on the ground as he continues to create his own musical legacy.
