Adam Blackstone

The Man Behind the Music

So So Def’s 20th Anniversary Concert

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SoSo Def celebrated 20 years of music in the birth place of the label, Atlanta, Georgia!

Atlanta’s Fox Theatre served as host for SoSo Def’s 20th Anniversary concert with performances from the past and present. Kris Kross opened up the show with a performance of their classic 90’s hit “Jump”. Other performances by Usher, Ludacris, Lil’ Jon, Xscape, Jagged Edge, Da Brat, Anthony Hamilton, Mariah Carey, and many more! The “Jigga Man” himself, Jay-Z, even surprised the audience with a collabo performance of “Money Aint a Thang” with Jermaine Dupri.

Pics and videos from the night are below!

Musical Director Adam Blackstone Stuns with 3 of the Grammy’s Biggest Performances

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As musical director for Justin Timberlake’s first nationally televised “comeback” performance, Adam Blackstone had a lot on his plate. Not only did the “Suit & Tie” performance rise to the occasion with a huge standing ovation, but he managed to throw two other amazing performances into the mix of the night as well. As musical director for Maroon 5, he orchestrated a mash-up performance with Alicia Keys and performed with the new single “Stay” with Rihanna. Quite a night indeed!

Leah Labelle Performs at BET’s Music Matters in Los Angeles, CA

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Former American Idol contestant and YouTube sensation, Leah Labelle performs in Los Angeles during Grammy Awards Weekend 2013 under the Musical Direction of BASSIc Black Entertainment and Adam Blackstone, for BET’s Music Matters. Leah performed a few of the cover songs she sung on her infamous youtube posts and her new single “Sexify” to a room full neo-soul music lovers.

Check out her interview with Starkeisha Connor of Access Charlotte on the BET Music Matters red carpet!

 

 

FUSETV Exclusive: Rihanna Musical Director Talks Concerts – 777 Tour Day 2

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We’ve only seen the Mexico City and Toronto legs of Rihanna’s 777 tour, but for each performance, both the singer and band appeared loose, limber and unafraid to play with the conventional structure of the singer’s biggest hits. According to Adam Blackstone, Rihanna‘s bassist and musical director, that’s exactly the plan. “We’re going to keep it loose this whole week,” Blackstone tells Fuse. “We’re going to go with the flow. We got a couple of surprises up our sleeve. We know what the fans want to hear and there’s so much to choose from that we’re able to dibble and dabble into her catalog. New York will be different than Paris will be different than London.”

Blackstone revealed that the major mechanics of the tour were hatched as late as early October, with setlist construction falling to Rihanna, Blackstone, keyboardist/co-musical director Omar Edwards and Roc Nation President Jay Brown. “My role is to put her hits in a sequence that could relate to the people immediately,” says Blackstone, who’s worked with Kanye West, Jay-Z and Maroon 5. “We’re not doing a long show in relation to a tour or stadium show. We wanted to inspire the people immediately and consistently.” The bassist admitted that paradoxically, Rihanna’s numerous hits—9 No. 1s on the Billboard 100—actually makes it a tougher process to construct the nightly set.

With 200 journalists all clamoring to get near the singer (us included!) to discover the “real” Rihanna away from the cameras and glitz, Blackstone says it’s hiding in plain sight. “She’s exactly the same person away from all of that. It’s very weird that she’s the same, but I think that’s why people connect with her. She’s a very down-to-earth girl; she’s a 24-year-old girl growing into her womanhood and it’s exciting to see the evolution of where she’s come from seven years ago to this world superstar phenomenon. She’s so humble and eager to learn, but she knows what she wants. She’s a boss in her own right.” …CONTINUED

See more at: http://www.fuse.tv/2012/11/rihanna-musical-director-777-tour


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