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.
Never Will I Marry
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never, never will I wed
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
No burdens to bear no conscience, no care
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
No burdens to bear no conscience, no care
No memories to mourn no turning, for I was
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
The lyrics of Cannonball Adderley's song "Never Will I Marry" speak to a person's decision to never settle down and get married. The repetitiveness of the words "never, never will I marry" emphasizes the singer's firm resolve. They declare that they were born to wander and be solitary, with a wide world to explore but a narrow bed to sleep in. The mention of "burdens to bear" suggests a freedom from responsibilities and obligations that come with marriage.
The lyrics also hint at a sense of independence and self-reliance. The singer expresses a lack of conscience, care, and memories to mourn. This suggests that they have chosen a lifestyle that allows them to live without regrets or the need to answer to anyone. The repetition of the phrase "born to wander solitary" further emphasizes the singer's desire for a life of independence and freedom.
Overall, the lyrics of "Never Will I Marry" convey a strong sense of individualism and a refusal to conform to societal expectations of settling down. The singer embraces a life of exploration and self-discovery, unencumbered by the conventions of marriage.
Line by Line Meaning
Never, never will I marry
I will never enter into marriage
Never, never will I wed
I have no intentions of getting married
Born to wander solitary
My destiny is to travel alone
Wide my world, narrow my bed
I have a vast world to explore, but a limited space to rest
Never never never will I marry
I am adamant about not tying the knot
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
I am meant to roam until my final days
No burdens to bear no conscience, no care
I have no responsibilities or worries to carry
No memories to mourn no turning, for I was
No regrets of the past, no desire to change what has happened
Born to wander solitary
Destined to travel alone
Wide my world, narrow my bed
My opportunities are vast, but my personal space is limited
Never never never will I marry
I have no intention of ever getting married
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
I will continue to roam until my life ends
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Frank Loesser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Andrearodriguez-oe9in
Never, never will I marry
Never, never will I wed
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
No burden to bear
No conscience, no care
No memories to mourn
No turning, for I was
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
No burden to end
No conscience, no care
No memories to mourn
No turning, for I was
Born to wander solitary
Wide my world, narrow my bed
Never never never will I marry
Born to wander 'til I'm dead
@bryandickerson5365
Been listening to this for 45 years and it just.gets.BETTER! Thanks
@paulamiles9559
I was lucky to first hear Nancy Wilson when I was 13- she had a hit on top 40 rock and roll in my southeast USA town " Face It Girl, It's Over". Then Nancy was a guest star on The Carol Burnett Show, then I saw her in a guest shot on a TV drama. What a talented lady she was!
@BroadwalkAdventures
Damn OC “word… life”
@jacquelyntemple8601
MY MANTRA FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!
@amerocker
Nancy Wilson: born 2/20/37 died 12/13/18. What a great voice she had.
@sclogse1
This, with these two, describes much more than the lyrics. It's a way of walking out the door into the day.
@BahamaWynters
Had no idea this was a mantra when I sang it over and over; still love this song and, no, never did I marry.
@RUGreen-tz6cu
Good for you. I sure wish I had heeded these words.
@myezecky7422
Life would have been easier if someone had clued me in early on that this would be my theme song. It's a good one. :-)
@beverlyharris9859
SENSATIONAL AWESOME BEAUTIFUL HEAVENLY!!!!