John Kenneth Blackwell, Jr. 43, husband of Yaritza Josefina Cambero Blackwell, went home to be with the Lord on July 4, 2017 at Florida Hospital at Connerton in Land O' Lakes, Florida.  "Kenny", as he was affectionately called, was born on September 9, 1973 in Columbia, South Carolina and was the 2nd child of the late John Kenneth Blackwell, Sr. and the late Mamie Smith Blackwell.

John got his first drum set and started playing drums at age 3.  He learned from his father, John Sr., a professional drummer himself who played with Mary Wells, King Curtis, Joe Simon, J.J. Jackson, The Drifters, Cornelius Crawford & the Entertainers and the Mighty Mellow Tones.  His father also gave him a record player and a few records that he had collected from his playing days and other collections.  From then on, love for music became part of John's life.

John experienced synesthesia when he was a young child, seeing colors for musical tones, and also possessed the gift of having perfect pitch.  As a teenager, John played with the Keenan Raider Marching Band and the Jazz Band under the leadership of his mentor and band director, W.E. Lyles.  Even at the age of 15, John's talent landed him a chance to play with local bands Robert Newton & Lotusfete, and Jazz and Fusion.  At 17, he landed his first professional, paid gig backing Jazz singer and swing bandleader Billy Eckstine.

After high school, John decided to go for further studies in music since he knew he needed to be a master in the changing scenario in the world of music.  He enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.  While at college, he never limited his life to classrooms.  He was a busy young man who split his time between classes and performances, in and out of college.  Within a short time, word spread that a drum virtuoso was in town and many local bands approached him to do gigs.  He performed with several R & B groups as well as Jazz bands.

Many recognized his great gift and skills while he was in college and it was then when he decided to leave Berklee in 1995 to play with the funk band Cameo and toured with them for three years.  In 1998, John was recruited by Patti LaBelle, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and played with Patti for three years also.  He appeared on her 1998 album "live! One Night Only", which won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

It was during his tenure with Patti LaBelle when he met Pop star Prince in Minneapolis.  Prince was so impressed with John that he invited him to do some work with his group, The New Power Generation (NPG).  He traveled to Minneapolis regularly to play with The NPG, while still performing with Patti.  John toured with Japanese singer, Utada Hikaru, and then joined Prince's band, The New Power Generation, in September 2000.  John performed with Prince and appeared on his 2003 "live at the Aladdin Las Vegas DVD", and the 2003 instrumental album, "N.E.W.S", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album, and on Prince's last record in 2016 "HITnRUN Phase Two".

1998, John was featured in the famous #1 drum magazine in the world, Modern Drummer Magazine, deeming him as a promising drummer at the time.  It was three years later when he made the front cover of Modern Drummer a prediction made by former Jazz band leader Robert Newton and Lotusfete, and again featured on the front cover in 2005.

John recorded and toured with Justin Timberlake in support of his 2006 "FutureSex/LoveSounds" album.  His career also included experiences with Crystal Kay, Double, P. Diddy, Charlie Singleton and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Lauren Hill, Esperanza Spalding as well as guest appearances with Maceo Parker, Confunkshun, Andy Allo, The Bar-Kays, Ledisi, Mint Condition, Mariah Carey, D'Angelo, William "Bootsy" Collins, KatieLove, China Rock star Xu Wei, among other entertainers.  In 2008 and 2011, he was one of the featured drummers at the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert.

In 2010, God blessed John to release his debut album with his band The John Blackwell Project, titled "4ever Jia", in memory to his late daughter, Jia Kennie Blackwell.  Hudson Music released two educational drumming DVDs:  "John Blackwell - Technique, Grooving and Showmanship", andJ John Blackwell Master Series.  In 2013, he served as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, teaching up and coming drummers and other musicians.

In 2016, he traveled to Japan to perform with Nik West, top female bassist and vocalist, and worked diligently until his health failed.

John's many product endorsements included Dixon Drums, Remo Drumheads, Hendrix Drums, Regal Tip Drumsticks, Turkish Cymbals, Ahead Drumsticks, Tama Drums, Yamaha Drums, Evans Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Zildian Cymbals, and Drumsticks, and Vater Drumsticks.

John's beautiful gift and love for music catapulted him to the level of master drummer.  Many considered him to be a legend in his own time.  He was a charismatic musician and his techniques of drumsticks twirling, cross-over strokes, and his recognizable china cymbal set up made him stand out from the pack.  However, John was even better known as a Kind, humble man and his greatest passion was his family.  On APRIL 10,2009, he married his beloved, Yaritza, and they made their home in Tampa, Florida.  It was her courageous spirit and Godly love for John that helped him to face the difficult battles during this last year.  Through it all, our precious John "Kenny", was a man of faith and stood in that very faith until he made his transition from earth to glory to receive his eternal reward.  He fought a good fight, he finished his course.

John leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Yaritza Cambero Blackwell, three children: Jaiven, Jada, and Jeremiah Blackwell of San Francisco, CA, a sister, Alessandra Staley of Manning, SC, his mother-in-law, Mrs. Rosa Penzo of the Dominican Republic, two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Rossy (Kelvin Escoto) Cambero and Mrs. Yudelka Cambero both of the Dominican Republic; six aunts, Mrs. Ernestine (willie) Green of Alcolu, SC, Mrs. Ollie Canty, Mrs. Paula (Michael) Walker and Ms. Celestine Cooper all of Manning, SC, Mrs. Gloria (TJ) Williams, and Ms. Janie Johnson both of Columbia, SC, two uncles: Mr. Paul Graham of Manning, SC, and Mr. Ronald Blackwell of Jacksonville, FL.  He also leaves to cherish three nieces, Morgan, Brooke, and Zola Staley of Manning, SC, his best friends, John Spinelli of Tampa, FL, and Dr. Takuya "Takki" Futaesaku of Japan, and a host of many special cousins, relatives and friends, as well as the many musicians and fans from all over the world.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. John Kenneth Blackwell, Sr. and Mrs. Mamie Smith Blackwell, his daughter, Jia Kennie Blackwell; his maternal grandparents, Mr. James Smith, Jr. and Mrs. Annie Lizer Smith, and his paternal grandfather, Deacon Ernest Blackwell, Sr.