Bruce Blackman Reveals Inspiration Behind Summer Hit “Bongo Bay”

Bruce with Dick Clark

For Bruce Blackman, the days are spent writing and recording new music. As of late, nine of his singles have charted top five in the genres of yacht rock, beach music, and many individual adult contemporary station charts. Once the frontman of the 1970s band Starbuck, Blackman remains a multi-instrumental, prolific musician. His recent hit song of the summer, “Bongo Bay,” is in the same league as the classic beach vacation music he and his wife, Peggy, listen to whenever they go on a seaside excursion.

“If we’re not on a beach, it’s not a vacation, and we have been all over the world,” Blackman said. For him, “Bongo Bay” was written to be one’s personal Shangri-La, somewhere that cannot be found with GPS, a location to retreat to when needing an escape from life. “Bongo Bay is somewhere between your imagination and the nearest beach. Wherever you want to leave your worries away, that’s Bongo Bay.”

This fall, Blackman will also release a new book titled “You Gotta Be Someone’s Reason to Smile,” and inside, readers will glimpse his philosophical perspectives, creative process, bounds of Southern humor, and lyrics to songs. He appreciates the fun that comes with writing country songs for his own enjoyment. “The Road to Moonlight Feels Right,” Blackman’s other book, has been out for a few years now. It is a high-quality read, one that offers a detailed recounting of his life before Starbuck’s establishment, all the childhood events that led him toward music and the written backstory behind “Moonlight Feels Right.”

Concerning touring, Blackman revealed that he has had many offers. “My thing is writing, arranging and recording. I haven’t been able to grasp the thought of touring at this point. So many members of the group have passed that I, essentially, would be doing a tribute-type band,” he said. He recognizes the success of yacht rock cover bands, and has even done some shows with them, but Blackman’s already toured across California many times, even playing shows in Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. Once, Blackman and his band performed at The Roxy Theatre. He recalled looking up and seeing Linda Ronstadt watching from the bar with one of the members from The Eagles. He admitted to breaking out into a cold sweat.

Long before Starbuck, Blackman was in a group called Eternity’s Children. Their song “Mrs. Bluebird” was a hit in the southeast, but the band moved when the song didn’t propel. Kevin Deverich, manager of the band The Animals, also took up managing Eternity’s Children, booking them a show at the Whiskey Go Go. For this show, acclaimed rock band The Doors was their opening act. “The band hadn’t had a hit yet. I remember thinking that was probably the worst band I had ever heard at the time. This guy wasn’t wearing a shirt, he was cussing, turning his back to the audience, but all of the girls were screaming like they were looking at Elvis Presley ten years earlier. I didn’t get it, but I was wrong,” Blackman laughed.

Blackman’s encounters with renown musicians doesn’t end there, far from it. Before the release of “Mrs. Bluebird,” Eternity’s Children obtained a record deal with A&M Records. “I was in their studio, and this guy walked in. He was another starving singer-songwriter like I was, and his name was David Gates. We wrote—attempted to write a few songs together, but we never really finished one. Not long after, he and Bread became a big hit. It was a very cool thing. I’m starting to sound like the Forest Gump of music.”

If given the opportunity to relive any of the concerts he experienced throughout his career, Blackman said it would be the first one Starbuck did with Electric Light Orchestra. That night, Blackman got the chance to speak with Jeff Lynne. At the time, “Moonlight Feels Right” was the number one song in Birmingham, Alabama. “The stage was this long walkway, like they were having a Miss America Pageant,” he said, “I was a nervous wreck. Then we started playing the song. I saw about ten thousand cigarette lights go up in the air. All the nerves went away and it was like I was sitting at home, singing like the notes tasted good.”

Blackman records music with a number of instruments. He has twelve keyboards, ten being synthesizers. His newest one is 25 years old, while the oldest is a 1949 model. He utilizes tools and still records with tape. “With any recording–you only catch that moment, at that time, and you can never do it exactly the same again,” he said, “but now if I need another course, I can do that in editing. But I like tape because it’s warmer.” Though he recognizes the advantages of software that ensures takes are consolidated, he compared the difference in sound to a Steven Spielberg film shot on film, versus being done on video.

BOOMERSHINE PAINTING

For creatives in any artistic field, including music, artificial intelligence has become an inescapable spore. Blackman also expressed disapproval of it. “I think about the tens of thousands of hours it takes to master an instrument, learning the ins and outs of writing, then someone can push a button and five minutes later and have a song. I don’t like it at all and I don’t think it is going to survive,” he said. As far as the creative process goes, Blackman believes there should be a law against the use of generative artificial intelligence.

Though, when asked about this current age of music, about how to encourage authentic artistic creation, he said it is already happening. He sees it in young musicians of newer groups who sing prettily, use real chord changes, many of which can be found topping the hundreds of non-conglomerate streaming charts. “It took me about ten years to figure out the new digital age,” Blackman said, “I do like it.” For him, it is incredible to see his streaming numbers. Even since its release in the seventies, “Moonlight Feels Right” continues to be listened to thousands of times every single day. To keep up with Blackman’s upcoming music and book releases, and learn more about his ongoing career, visit https://bruceblackman.com/.