Update: Blackman’s daughter has confirmed that Don lost his battle with cancer at 12.15am, aged 60.

Jazz pianist, songwriter and producer Don Blackman has been hospitalised with stage four cancer. 

The news was confirmed by his daughter Irene on Twitter last night, who asked fans to “please pray for us”. Although Twitter is awash with people posting “Don Blackman R.I.P.”, including posts by Deee-lite’s Lady Miss Kier and  Lalah Hathaway, the news – to our knowledge – has yet to be confirmed by his family or a representative. Stage Four cancer means that the cancer has spread to various parts of the human body.

As well as a solo artist in his own right, releasing a self-titled album in 1982 that featured the hit ‘Heart’s Desire’, Blackman played with acts like Parliament / Funkadelic, Roy Ayers, Janet Jackson, Sting, Earth, Wind and Fire and more.