JD Blair is an American drummer who plays country music, Christian music and other genres. He has released four solo albums, and is mentioned as an influential character in Victor Wooten's book The Music Lesson as well as Wooten's DVD Groove Workshop. He is an AFM #369 member and a founding member of Mu Phi Sigma, National Percussion Fraternity.

Early life

Blair was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. Blair's formal music training started at Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama, with Bob Baccus as his instructor. Afterwards, Blair was recruited by John Paul Lindberg to attend Norfolk State University. He also attended Alabama A & M University as a Telecommunications Major. Before playing music professionally, Blair worked as a disc jockey at a Christian radio station (WNDA).

Career

Blair has played with Wynonna Judd, Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, Big and Rich, and Shania Twain. He has received the Drum! Magazine’s 2000 Country Drummer of the Year award and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. In 2013, Blair played dates on Victor Wooten's "Sword and Stone, Words and Tones Tour". J.D. was the drummer for Shania Twain's "Still the One" show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wooten and Blair were to perform as 2 Minds, 1 Groove.

Partial artist discography

Yolanda Adams, Chalmers Alford, Sam “Shake” Anderson, India Arie, Bob Babbitt, A Special Blend, Ayla Brown, Larry Carlton, Jeff Carruthers, Bootsy Collins, George Duke, First Call, Tommy Emmanuel, The Eternal Chariot Singers, Anthony Gomes, Heirborne, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Paul Jackson, Jr., Wynonna Judd, Phil Keaggy, Chris Kent, Matthews, Wright & King, Erin Leahy, Jeff Lorber, Lyle Lovett, Shelby Lynne, Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster, Donnie McClurkin, Donna McElroy, Rod McGaha, Gary Motley, Point Of Grace, Riapsedon, Mike Stern, Take 6, Takana, Shane Theriot, Shania Twain, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Kirk Whalum, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Joseph, Regi, Roy, & Victor Wooten.

Video credits

Tours

Film credits

Recordings as a solo artist