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 Concentrate On You
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
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And trouble begins to brew,
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
I concentrate on you.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
And people declare "You're through!",
Whenever the blues become my only song,
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
When at first your kiss I decline.
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
And once again our arms intertwine
And so, when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true,
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I concentrate on you.
The lyrics of "I Concentrate On You" by Cannonball Adderley reveal the power of love to provide solace during tough times. The singer suggests that whenever he feels down and out with life’s challenges, he focuses his mind, heart, and soul on a special someone, who shores up his spirits and unleashes a divine spark that guides his life towards joy and fulfillment.
The song also shows that this love is so strong that it can melt away even the most daunting of obstacles in life. For instance, whenever fortune frowns upon him or people predict his downfall, he knows that he can find solace in his significant other. He suggests that it's the little things like the smile, the tender kiss, and the light in their eyes that make all the difference. Finally, the lyrics contain a sense of optimism as the singer believes that even when experts claim that love is seldom true, he can prove them wrong by keeping his heart focused on his beloved.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Concentrate On You" are romantic, hopeful, and evocative, making the song a classic love ballad that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever skies look gray to me
When things seem bleak and hopeless
And trouble begins to brew,
And problems start to arise
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
When the cold and harshness of life becomes overwhelming
I concentrate on you.
I focus on the one I love and care about
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
When luck seems to be going against me
And people declare "You're through!",
And others say that I'm finished or defeated
Whenever the blues become my only song,
When I am consumed by sadness and despair
I concentrate on you.
I focus on the one who brings joy and comfort to my life
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
I think about your gentle and loving smile
When at first your kiss I decline.
Even if I hesitate to reciprocate your affections at first
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
I remember the warmth and joy in your eyes when I finally open up to you
And once again our arms intertwine
And we embrace each other in a loving hug
And so, when wise men say to me
Despite what those who are supposedly more knowledgeable than me might say
That love's young dream never comes true,
That youthful, passionate love is just a fantasy
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I will show that even those who are considered wise can be mistaken
I concentrate on you.
I will focus on the person I love, and defy anyone who says that true love does not exist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind