Johnny Adams (Born 05/01/1932, Died 14/09/1998)

He moved to secular music in 1959, having previously served his obligatory apprenticeship in gospel groups such as the Soul Revivers and Bessie Griffin and her Soul Consolators. Songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie convinced her then neighbour Adams to sing her own composition 'I Won't Cry'. The track was produced by a young Mac Rebennack and was released on Ric Records. He cut some outstanding follow-ups for Ric including 'A Losing Battle' (the Rebennack-penned gem proved Adams's first national R&B hit in 1962) and 'Life Is a Struggle'. These can be found on the compilation album "I Won't Cry" and the CD is a worthy addition to your R&B collection.

Adams continued to record for regional labels throughout the 60s and charted again with the country standard 'Release Me' and the cracking 1969 release 'Reconsider Me' (an R&B top ten hit), both on SSS International Records. Despite several worthy SSS follow-ups ('I Can't Be All Bad' was another reasonable seller), Adams never repeated the success. Adams then teamed up with guitarist Walter "Wolfman" Washington and together they played every weekend at Dorothy's Medallion Lounge. At this point Adams looked destined to remain a local hero. Try the CD "Released - A Memorial Album" for a flavour of this period.
In 1984 however, Adams began an association with Rounder Records and the producer Scott Billington which continued until Adam's death in 1998. It was almost as though Adams had found his spiritual home and over the years they produced a series of excellent recordings and Johnny gained long delayed national recognition.

All of the Rounder recordings can be recommended. Billington seemed on a mission to prove to the rest of the world that there was nothing Adams couldn't sing and produced a series of varied CDs to prove his case. We have an example of Adams singing the songs of one of his favourite songwriters ("Sings Doc Pomus:The Real Me"), an album which proves to be a glorious tribute to the literate and complex songs of Pomus. Mac Rebennack co-produces on this one and co-wrote a number of the songs.
"Good Morning Heartache" (1993) is another great match, arranger Wardell Quezergue teaming up with Adams on a set of jazz standards, including 'You Don't Know What Love Is' and 'Come Rain Or Come Shine'.
Another of the excellent Rounder releases (but remember, they are all worth having) is "One Foot In The Blues", a small jazz combo type setting for Johnny's vocals, driven by the wonderful sound of Lonnie Smith's Hammond B-3 organ on a fine set of soulful blues and jazz.
If you haven't heard any of Adam's material, and if you love to hear a true master vocalist at work, then any of the Rounder releases can be safely sought out without any fear of disappointment. If you want to try a selection from the Rounder catalogue, the excellent compilation "There Is Always One More Time" is a good introductory purchase. But in truth the original Rounder albums are probably the best way to listen to the man.