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.
If I Love Again
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
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Brought such a flame to me
And let it die
And if another love should find my heart
It will remind my heart of your goodbye
With every new love you
In others eyes, its you I see
If I love again
Though its someone new
If I love again
It'll still be you
In someone else's firm embrace
I'll close my eyes but see your face
If I love again
I'll find other charms
But I'll make believe, you are in my arms
And though my lips whisper
"I love you"
My heart will not be true
I'll be loving
Every time I love again
The song "If I Love Again" by Cannonball Adderley is a reflective tune about a lover's return to love after a heartbreak. The singer wonders why his previous lover ignited such strong feelings within them only to let it all go to waste. The lyrics suggest that if the singer ever falls in love again, they will inevitably be reminded of the previous lover and the pain of their departure. Even though the singer will try to find new charms in their new love, they will still be haunted by the absence of their previous lover.
The song speaks to the universality of love and the pain that comes with losing it. It suggests that even though we may try to move on, the memories of past loves will always linger, influencing our perception of new relationships. The lyrics are written in an introspective tone, hinting at the complexity of emotions that come with love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I often wonder why he came to me
I question why love ever came to me
Brought such a flame to me
Why was I blessed with such a passionate love
And let it die
Why did it end, leaving my heart cold
And if another love should find my heart
If I were to love again
It will remind my heart of your goodbye
The memory of your departure will never fade
With every new love you
In every person I love
Will come back to me
I will be reminded of you
In others eyes, its you I see
I will see your essence in the eyes of another person
If I love again
If I choose to fall in love one more time
Though its someone new
Even if it's not you
It'll still be you
You will always have a special place in my heart
In someone else's firm embrace
While in the arms of another
I'll close my eyes but see your face
I will visualize your image in my mind
If I love again
Should I ever love anew
I'll find other charms
I'll discover new likable traits in another
But I'll make believe, you are in my arms
I will pretend it's you holding me
And though my lips whisper 'I love you'
Even if I say 'I love you'
My heart will not be true
My heart will always belong to you
I'll be loving
With every new love I embrace
Every time I love again
I'll be reminded of the love we shared
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEN OAKLAND, JACK MURRAY, MURRAY JACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind