Adderley is remembered for his 1966 single "Mercy Mercy Mercy", a crossover hit on the pop charts, and for his work with trumpeter Miles Davis, including on the epochal album Kind of Blue (1959). He was the brother of jazz cornetist Nat Adderley, a longtime member of his band.
The name 'Canonball' is supposed to have originated from his being nicknamed 'cannibal' in his youth, on account of his prodigious eating
Early life and career
Originally from Tampa, Florida, Adderley moved to New York in the mid-1950s. His nickname derived originally from "cannibal", a title imposed on him by high school colleagues as a tribute to his voracious appetite.
His educational career was long established prior to teaching applied instrumental music classes at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cannonball moved to Tallahassee, Florida when his parents obtained teaching positions at Florida A&M University. Both Cannonball and brother Nat played with Ray Charles when Charles lived in Tallahassee during the early 1940s. Cannonball was a local legend in Florida until he moved to New York City in 1955, where he lived in Corona, Queens.
It was in New York during this time that Adderley's prolific career began. Adderley visited the Cafe Bohemia, where Oscar Pettiford's group was playing that night. Adderley had brought his saxophone into the club with him, primarily because he feared that it would be stolen, and he was asked to sit in as the saxophone player was late. That performance established his reputation.
Prior to joining Miles Davis' band, Adderley formed his own group with his brother Nat after signing onto the Savoy jazz label in 1957. He was noticed by Miles Davis, and it was because of his blues-rooted alto saxophone that Davis asked him to play with his group.
Adderley joined the Miles Davis Sextet in October 1957, three months prior to John Coltrane's return to the group. Adderley played on the seminal Davis records Milestones and Kind of Blue. This period also overlapped with pianist Bill Evans' time with the sextet, an association that led to recording Portrait of Cannonball and Know What I Mean?.
His interest as an educator carried over to his recordings. In 1961, Cannonball narrated The Child's Introduction to Jazz, released on Riverside Records.
Band leader
The Cannonball Adderley Quintet featured Cannonball on alto sax and his brother Nat Adderley on cornet. Cannonball's first quintet was not very successful; however, after leaving Davis' group, he formed another, again with his brother, which enjoyed more success.
Later life
By the end of the 1960s, Adderley's playing began to reflect the influence of the electric jazz, avant-garde, and Davis' experiments on the album Bitches Brew. On his albums from this period, such as Accent on Africa (1968) and The Price You Got to Pay to Be Free (1970), he began doubling on soprano saxophone, showing the influence of Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. In that same year, his quintet appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival in California, and a brief scene of that performance was featured in the 1971 psychological thriller Play Misty for Me, starring Clint Eastwood. In 1975 he also appeared (in an acting role alongside Jose Feliciano and David Carradine) in the episode "Battle Hymn" in the third season of the TV series Kung Fu.
Joe Zawinul's composition "Cannon Ball" (recorded on Weather Report's album Black Market) is a tribute to his former leader. Pepper Adams and George Mraz dedicated the composition "Julian" on the 1975 Pepper Adams album (also called "Julian") days after Cannonball's death.
Songs made famous by Adderley and his bands include "This Here" (written by Bobby Timmons), "The Jive Samba", "Work Song" (written by Nat Adderley), "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (written by Joe Zawinul) and "Walk Tall" (written by Zawinul, Marrow and Rein). A cover version of Pops Staples' "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)?" also entered the charts.
Adderley was initiated as an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity (Gamma Theta chapter, University of North Texas, '60, & Xi Omega chapter, Frostburg State University, '70) and Alpha Phi Alpha (Beta Nu chapter, Florida A&M University).
Adderley died of a stroke in 1975. He was buried in the Southside Cemetery, Tallahassee, Florida. Later that year he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.
I'll Never Stop Loving You
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever else I may do
My love for you will live 'til time itself is through
I'll never stop wanting you
And when forever is through
My heart will beat the way it does each time we meet
The night doesn't question the stars that appear in the skies
So why should I question the stars that appear in my eyes
My love will last and endure
I'll never, no, I'll never stop loving you
I'll never stop loving you
Whatever else I may do
My love for you will live 'til time itself is through
I'll never stop wanting you
And when forever is through
My heart will beat the way it does each time we meet
The night doesn't question the stars that appear in the skies
So why should I question the stars that appear in my eyes
Of this I'm more than just sure
My love will last and endure
I'll never, no, I'll never stop loving you
The lyrics of Cannonball Adderley's "I'll Never Stop Loving You" revolve around the declaration of eternal love. The persona in the song professes their unwavering affection to their lover, expressing that they will always love and want them, and that their heart will continue to beat the same way every time they are together. They liken their certainty in their loving feelings to the consistency of the stars in the sky, suggesting that there should be no doubt about the sincerity of their emotions.
The song is essentially a love letter set to music, with each verse reaffirming the enduring nature of the persona's love. The repetition of the opening line and the melody that accompanies it emphasizes the steadfastness of their commitment. The bridge ("The night doesn't question the stars that appear in the skies, So why should I question the stars that appear in my eyes") is a beautiful metaphor for trusting in the power of love, and not second-guessing the feelings it evokes.
Overall, "I'll Never Stop Loving You" is a timeless love song that carries a universal message about the all-encompassing nature of love, and the endless capacity of the human heart to feel deeply and intensely.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never stop loving you
No matter what happens, my love for you will never fade away
Whatever else I may do
Despite any other actions or decisions I make, I will always love you
My love for you will live 'til time itself is through
My love is eternal and will last forever, beyond the bounds of time
I'll never stop wanting you
My desire and longing for you will never disappear
And when forever is through
Even after an endless amount of time has passed
My heart will beat the way it does each time we meet
My heart will always leap with joy every time I see you
The night doesn't question the stars that appear in the skies
Just like the night sky accepts the presence of stars without question
So why should I question the stars that appear in my eyes
I shouldn't doubt the intense love and passion that I feel for you
Of this I'm more than just sure
I am completely certain that my love for you will never falter
My love will last and endure
My affection and dedication will persist for all of time
I'll never, no, I'll never stop loving you
I will never, under any circumstance, cease to love you
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind