Alleah Red
Music director and artist Adam Blackstone surprised his fans with the release of his debut album, Legacy, in 2022. The album showcases a fusion of jazz and pop, a departure from his familiar roles in the Super Bowl, R&B, and hip-hop scenes. Blackstone explains that returning to his jazz and gospel roots pleasantly surprised some listeners. The driving force behind the album was Blackstone's desire to leave a lasting legacy for his family.
Blackstone’s son, Adam Blackstone Jr., even contributed by reciting a poem on the track “Amongst the Stars.” Legacy received critical acclaim, earning a Grammy nomination for collaborating with Jazmine Sullivan on the song “Round Midnight.” It also made it onto former President Barack Obama’s list of favorite music from 2022 and won an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Jazz Album.”
Simultaneously, Blackstone was busy preparing for his tour, The Legacy Experience and co-music directed the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Rihanna. This collaboration with Rihanna marks their second partnership, having previously worked together on her Anti Tour in 2016. Blackstone reveals that they have constantly communicated during Rihanna’s hiatus from the stage, collaborating on projects such as Volume Four for Savage x Fenty and film scoring opportunities.
Blackstone attributes his longevity and success as a musical director to his faith. While he doesn’t have immediate plans for a second album, he expresses excitement about further exploring his artistic experimentation. With a touch of humor, Blackstone jokes that he hopes to have another 41 years to continue building on his legacy, potentially leading to “Legacy 10.”
SOHH Talks With Adam Blackstone
Returning to his roots is one of the elements the Grammy-nominated album was built on, but it’s Blackstone’s footprint that was a key driving factor behind its release.
“I returned to my Jazz roots. I think that was a surprise to some because they know me as the Superbowl, Pop, R&B, and Hip-hop person. But my first love was Jazz and Gospel,” explains Blackstone.
He proudly boasts about his son, Adam Blackstone Jr., who can be heard reading a poem on the album’s song, Amongst the Stars.
“As incredible as it is to do four Super Bowls, The Oscars, The Grammy’s, and all of that—what do I have to leave behind for my children and family with their name on it. I did not want to leave the Earth not empty,” says Blackstone. He continued, “I promise to have him a part of everything I’m doing because at the end of the day this is for him and my daughter.”
However, it doesn’t hurt that the album earned a Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Jazmine Sullivan for the track, Round Midnight. To top off the success of Legacy, it even nabbed an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Jazz Album.”
During the award season in February, Blackstone was simultaneously preparing his tour, The Legacy Experience, but also co-music directing the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Rihanna. This wasn’t Blackstone’s first time working with the “Umbrella” singer. He was the MD and bassist on her Anti Tour in 2016.
After seven years, the two paired up again to get Rih Rih ready for what would become the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime performance to date. Some may not realize that the duo has been collaborating during her break from the stage.
“We’ve been in constant communication and it may not have been for her own music, but we’ve worked on projects,” shares Blackstone.
Some of those projects include Volume Four, for Savage x Fenty, and scoring opportunities for motion pictures.
Blackstone attributes his longevity and title as musical director preference to some of the industry’s biggest names to his faith. His experimentation with creating as an artist is something he is excited to continue exploring.
While he is in no rush to get back to the booth for album number two, the musician shares, Legacy, was just him scratching the surface.
“Hopefully God spares me another 41 years and we’ll be talking about Legacy 10,” laughs Blackstone.
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