Where do I start? I guess the begiining would be the best place. I remember hearing Don's music as a child. My mom had the "Blackman" album and she would wear "Since You've Been Away So Long" and "Holding You, Loving You" ALL THE WAY out!! The time changed, the music changed, but those songs were always in my head. It wasn't until I was about 22 years old that I would hear his sounds again.
Being from Detroit, the home of Slum Village, I heard his music on the Fantastic Vol. 2 CD. One of my mentors, J. Dilla had sampled "Holding You, Loving You", for their song, "Go Ladies." I knew it sounded familiar, but I never bothered to look up where it came from. When I started getting heavy into production myself and studying Dilla's work, I looked up where he got some of his samples from and of course, Don's name popped up. That set me on a journey to find the "Blackman" LP. Yes... the VINYL!! I couldn't find it, but I had to have it, so I (illegally) download the CD from online somewhere. Can't remember the site. It doesn't really matter though. Lol!! I did eventually get the vinyl as a birthday gift not long after. I burned the music on CD and listened to it in my truck ALL THE TIME!! I let my best friend Derrick hear it, and he was hooked. Don became one of Derrick's major influences on piano. We studied his music from about 2004-2010. Listening constantly!!
At that time, I was just getting on Facebook and like we all do, we look for friends, and famous people. I looked Don up and he was there. I went CRAZY!! Like, "Oh my God, Don Blackman is on Facebook." I shot him a friend request and he accepted not long after. So, one day I'm sitting listening to his second CD and I decide to post a status up and "tag" him, saying, "It would be really could to talk to Don Blackman one day". A few minutes after I posted that status, he inboxed me and said, "Give me your number. I'll call you." I didn't know what to do. This was DON BLACKMAN!! I was super nervous. The saying goes, "Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it", right? Well, I got it!!
I ran downstairs from the studio and told my wife that Don Blackman said he was gonna call. She was excited for me because she knew how much I loved this man and his music. She digs him as well. A few minutes later, about 1am, my phone rings. I was so nervous and excited that I could barely speak. We talked for about 30 minutes. Music, life, etc. Over the next coupld years, that was how our conversations went. Of course there were constant jokes. Don was HILARIOUS!!
In early 2011, I decided that I would do a CD of my own, so I made a list of everyone that I wanted on it and Don was one of them. It wasn't until summer of 2011 that I actually asked him to be on the record. I was surprised when he said yes with no hesitation. I told Derrick, and he was super happy for me. He was also excited that he was going to be on the same album as Don. Shortly after that, I saw that he had left Facebook. I tried to get in touch him him on a couple numbers that I had, but they were both disconnected. I was very disappointed because I really wanted him on the album and now it wasn't going to happen. I also had his name on the cover and was sad that I would have to take it off. He showed back up on Facebook briefly in 2012, and was off and on. It was hard to keep touch. We spoke briefly online in July '12.
6 months went by, putting us into late January '13, and out of nowhere, I get a Facebook message from Don that said...
I was SUPER busy at the time and forgot to call that evening. A week went by, forgor to call again, another week wend by and I still forgot to call. Life was just getting away from me. So... one Saturday afternoon, I'm on Skype and Don send me a video call. I apologized to him for not getting back with him, and he sadi "It's cool, I know you're busy". We talked for a bit, just catching up but I noticed that he had lost a lot of weight. he was also coughing very badly and could barely get through his sentences. I was concerned. I guess he could see the concern in my face and he said, "Brandon, I have cancer." I was shocked. I asked what kind and he said liver cancer. That really hurt me. I asked what the doctors were saying and he said that they were saying much in the way of treatment. He then switched the conversation to my album saying that he still wanted to do it. I asked him, "Are you sure?" and he said, "I'm playing until I leave here. The only thing that's gonna stop me is death. Now, who's your brother?" I said, "You are." He said he needed to rest so I let him go.
I was really hurt from seeing him like that. I went downstairs and told my wife about it and she asked how much longer did they give him. I told her he didn't say, but I could feel in my spirit that it wouldn't be long at all. I told her that I need to hurry and come up with the money to get to New York and to pay him. I talked to him a week or 2 later and told him I was still trying to get the money together and that it should be soon. During that conversation, he told me that he had hent back to the doctors and they had also diagnosed him with colon cancer. Another heartbreak. After he told me that, I did everything I could and finally came up with the money to make the session happen in New York.
I headed to New York on March 11t and got there on the 12th. A 17 hour Greyhound ride!! When I got there, I headed straight to the studio where Don and his son Kyle showed up shorting after. He wasn't feeling well but he was in great spirits. We laughed and joked the ENTIRE session. He loved the song and was in great form seeing as he had not touched a piano 6 months prior to the session. When the seesion ended, we took a few photos, laughed a bit, and then he left. We looked at each other before he left and we both knew that this would be his last song. I was just hoping that it wasn't. Here's a picture on his last chart.
I headed home on the Greyhound that night, and Don called to thank me for letting him do the session. He said he was honored and it was a blessing. It was a blessing for us both!! I sent him a text shortly after I had returned home, but didn't get a response. I knew he was sick, so I I was cool when I didn't get a response.
We didn't speak again after that night. I learned a couple weeks later that he was in the hospital. I immediately started praying for him. Looks like God needed him more than we did. Don passed away on April 11, 2013. I sent my final text to him on the 10th. I cried uncontrollably when I learned of his passing. Nothing could comfort me. I had a show that night, and started not to do it, but I figured it was be a great thing to play for Don.
I guess this is where I wrap it up...
*Before we left the studio, I asked him to play something just for me. This is what he played... "Revelation" from Lenny White's "Astral Pirates".
I said ALL of that to say that it was truly a blessing and an honor to know his music for many years and know him personally for a short few. We only met that one time in New York at the session. but he was still my "Uncle Don". Rest well dear brother. You are missed.
Much love,
~B.