"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Bobby Dean Blackburn's new disk to be released 2010 through Electro-Fi records. Original tracks include: Are You Ready, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Kitchen Blues, Twilight Time and I Got A Right.
Like most young black children, Bobby Dean Blackburn first started his singing career in church. He was only 9 years old. He sang in the Children’s Mission Band for the Grant A.M.E. Church on Soho St. in Toronto. At the tender age of 12, he was the lead singer in a gospel sextet at the B. M.E. church on Shaw St., also in Toronto. He had his first touring experience with this group as they went to different churches throughout Ontario singing gospel, an early form of blues, Christian style.
Then at age 13, Bobby took guitar lessons at a place known as Fred Roden’s Record Corral on Bathurst St. Fred liked his singing so much he wanted to take young Bobby Dean to Memphis Tennessee to the Grand Ol Opre.
So excited was Bobby that he made a demo record for Fred to send to Memphis. The record was heard and Bobby was accepted. A recording contract was within reach. All Fred had to do was get his parents permission and to sign the contract. His father refused. He didn't want Bobby to be a musician. His father couldn’t visualize how being a musician would be a successful lifestyle for a young black man in Canada. Years later, Bobby would reflect back on this concern of his father. Bobby thinks it was more to do with the racial tensions of the times in the U. S. A. This was in 1953. There were no Black Country singers at the time.
In 1956 Bobby started his own band in high school after winning a talent show. He was asked to play at his first high school dance. The players were a motley crew made up of some of those that appeared in the talent show! It was a combination of Dixieland, Country and Pop. It wasn’t long before Bobby quickly turned the band into an R&R - R&B band. The band was very well received by the students. They love this new sound! Everyone was excited, except of course the teachers and the principal. Later that year Bobby was asked not to return next year. That was the end of Bobby's formal schooling for many years.
He went back to school and graduated with honours in 1997.
Bobby began to broaden his horizons and began playing all the teen dances in the city and in the summer travelled to different venues all over Ontario.
The Band was called Bobby Dean and The Gems.
It consisted of guitar, bass drums piano, tenor sax and Baritone Sax.
This was the first R&R band to incorporate horns in Canada.
The music of Bobby Dean was born, taking shape and gaining presence with its large full sound.
At age17 Bobby opened the first R&B after hours dance club in Toronto.
It was the original, Club Blue Note owned by Al and Jerry Steiner.
The Gems played the club for a year before turning professional and joining the Toronto Music Association.
Bobby's first professional long term gig was at the Zanzibar Tavern. Here he would develop his reputation as a future Canadian jazz and blues icon.
In the years that followed Bobby travelling across Canada playing with his cousin Billy Blackburn and vocalist Marrianne Pettiford. He would return to the Zanzibar in 1969 and stay until1975.
During the Zanzibar years, musicians lined up to play with Bobby everyday (except Sundays). Out of these riveting jam sessions many bands were formed. Some musicians were American and in Canada to avoid being drafted into the Viet Nam War.
Some of the best musicians in the world came to the Zanzibar to listen and to scout for talent for their own bands. It was a time when up and coming singers and musicians could count on Bobby for a chance to show their talent. Everyone wanted to be heard at the Zanzibar.
Some of the notables who passed by to play were Jimmy Smith, Buddy Miles, Jimmy Mcgriff, David Clayton Thomas, Wm. Smitty Smith, from Motherlode, Paul Butterfield, just to name a few. Bobby always surrounded himself with great musicians such as Rolland Prince, Demo Cates, Terry Logan Billy Blackburn Doug Richardson, Larry Ellis, Van Dixon, Steve Kennedy and Howard Ayee.
These are just a few names. There were many more.
For the last 10 years Bobby has lived on the Bruce Peninsula where many know him as a blues and jazz icon, a mentor. He has brought Jazz and Blues to the Bruce. He enriches those he meets with his masterful renditions. He is known for playing many varied venues including many jazz festivals:
The Collingwood Blues Festival, Jazz by the Bay in Thornbury, Owen Sound’s 150 Homecoming, Kincardine Music Festival and Emancipation Celebration Festival, known to our family as the Family re-union Picnic. He continues to entertain large crowds and he continues to entertain delighted seniors in a small nursing home every year at Christmas.
On so many of these occasions, Bobby has been joined by his sons,” Blackburn". Bobby has always said, “Playing with my boys is my heaven on earth.” He is joined on this CD with his sons. This is a testament to his admiration and the sheer enjoyment he has playing with them.
As he has always said, “I love to surround myself with only the top musicians available!”
Some of Bobby's favorite musicians are Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ray Charles, B.B.King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown and James Brown
Congratulations Bobby on your CD. You’ve paid this music forward.
It will always be loved as you are. Love Bonnie. (Bonita Johnson deMatteis)
