PRINCE Drummer John Blackwell

Musicians Reveal

John Blackwell was an American contemporary R&B, funk, jazz, fusion, and pop drummer. After working with Cameo and Patti LaBelle, John Blackwell was recruited by Prince and took over Kirk Johnson’s position as drummer of The NPG in September 2000. He was the first musician to play from beginning to end, barring an interlude, on an album Prince released under his own name (The Rainbow Children).

After the Musicology Live 2004ever tour, John Blackwell left The NPG and was recruited by Justin Timberlake, whom with he toured for two years. He came back working with Prince as The NPG drummer in July 2010, while he continued to pursue his own projects, and collaboration with other artists.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince featured the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" on his official website www.npgmusicclub.com. This is the first radio show to have ever received that honor. "Joe Kelley Radio" has been on the radio airwaves since 1982. Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault co-host the show and are well-respected in the music business as creative air personalities and supporters of independent musicians . Our web site is located at www.joekelleyradio.com . The show broadcasts 24 hours/ 7 days a week here, and also, live locally, in Fairfield, CT on WVOF 88.5 FM , on Mondays from 6pm-8pm EST.

The show features creative music in funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop, latin, and gospel. In addition, Joe Kelley has interviewed renowned musicians such as Victor Wooten, Sheila E. , Foley, Robin Duhe, Jef Lee Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Rhonda Smith, Bernie Worrell, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bland, Larry Graham, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, Steve Smith, St. Paul Peterson, JD Blair, Tori Ruffin, Kat Dyson, Eric Person, actor Jeff Daniels, Junior Giscombe, John Scofield, EC Scott, John Blackwell, Mystic Bowie, and many others. Finally, "Joe Kelley Radio" hosts an in-house concert series.