His career began there in the 1950s, where he played in a bebop quintet with pianist Ellis Marsalis and clarinetist Alvin Batiste and briefly toured with Ray Charles.

He has also credited his inspiration for playing the drums to his time growing up trying to mimic and match the sounds of his older sisters tap dancing.

Blackwell later toured and recorded extensively with fellow Coleman veterans Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, and Dewey Redman, both individually and as the quartet Old and New Dreams.

[1] In 1981, Blackwell performed at the Woodstock Jazz Festival, held in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Creative Music Studio, alongside Mark Helias, Carlos Ward, and Graham Haynes.

Blackwell grew up in a family rich with diverse indigenous musical tradition, as well as connections to prominent musicians and the recording industry in New Orleans and the surrounding areas.

Despite this, he would return to New Orleans in 1956 to play in the American Jazz Quintet with musicians Alvin Batiste, Peter "Chuck" Badie, Ellis Marsalis, Nat Perrilliat.

During this period, much of Blackwell's playing can be described as song like in nature, being repetitive and often combing high and low-pitched beats found on the drum set.

[5] Only a few years later in 1973 would his health begin to decline, he would develop chronic kidney malfunction which would require frequent dialysis and limit his ability to travel.

[6] Despite these complications, Blackwell went on to co-found Old and New Dreams with former bandmates Don Cherry and Charlie Haden, they were joined by Dewey Redmen.

[4][5] On October 7, 1992, Blackwell died at the age of 62 years old due to his complications related to chronic kidney failure at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut.

With Old and New Dreams With Ray Anderson With Bill Barron With Karl Berger With Jane Ira Bloom With David Bond With Charles Brackeen With Anthony Braxton With Marion Brown With Ornette Coleman With Steve Coleman With Alice Coltrane With Don Cherry With Jayne Cortez With Stanley Cowell With Anthony Davis With Eric Dolphy With Dewey Redman With Charlie Haden With Albert Heath With Clifford Jordan With Joe Lovano With Jemeel Moondoc With David Murray With Art Neville With Yoko Ono With Hilton Ruiz With Archie Shepp With Bob Stewart With Mal Waldron With Wadada Leo Smith