[citation needed] Black was born in Teaneck, New Jersey where he was childhood friends with film critic Leonard Maltin and singer Phoebe Snow.

[5] Maltin and Black attended Teaneck High School and regularly prowled the rep cinemas of Manhattan as teens before graduating in 1968.

[6] He moved to Austin to study film at The University of Texas where he received a BFA in 1980,[7] and became knowledgeable about B-movies, including the work of Russ Meyer.

[9] In addition to serving as executive producer, he also directed a documentary about Austin director Richard Linklater which premiered on PBS's American Masters.

[11] In October 2023 Black and the Austin Chronicle were sued for alleged harassment, abuse, and "sexual servitude.