Music Alum Adam Blackstone Nominated for Emmy for Super Bowl LII Halftime Show

August 9, 2018

Congratulations to music alumnus Adam Blackstone '04 (Bass) for his Emmy nomination for Music Direction for the Super Bowl LII halftime show with Justin Timberlake. More than 110 million people watched the event, in addition to the 66,000 fans in the stadium.

Adam is also the music director for Alicia Keyes, Rihanna, Drake, Adam Levine, Maroon 5, Eminem, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and more A-list stars.

"Being nominated for an Emmy is an amazing and humbling experience. As an artist you strive for excellence every day, and it's gratifying and exciting when your peers recognize it," he says.

Adam’s expertise as a musical director, producer and musician has been demonstrated at many live and televised award shows including; the Oscars, the Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, iHeart Music Radio Festival, Teen Choice Awards, BET Award Shows, NAACP Image Awards and TV Land Icon Awards.  He has been featured in Billboard magazine and graced the cover of Bass Player magazine. 

Adam has been a music director or musician in every genre, from hip-hop to country, rap to R&B, gospel to rock and everything in between. He received a Grammy nomination as music director/arranger for Pharrell's chart-topping Happy Live, and has been a co-writer and/or producer on numerous Grammy winning and nominated songs. He was also the band leader and bassist for the Oscar-nominated movie The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, and live underscored the Oscar nominated movie Sing.

Adam began his professional career as a musician when he was a UArts student. In 2007, he and his wife launched BBE (BASSic Black Entertainment LLC), a full service music company. In 2013, they launched the BBE record label.

In 2014, the University presented Adam with the Silver Star Alumni Award, given to alumni who have achieved professional distinction, as evidenced by their contribution to their chosen fields.