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.
One For Newk
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
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Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
You forgot your promises, every single vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
In those days you never thought anything of me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
The lyrics to Cannonball Adderley's song "I Waited for You" are about a person who has been mistreated and forgotten by their past lover but has eventually moved on and found someone new. The opening lyrics reflect on the pain and sleepless nights caused by the actions of the previous lover. The second verse discusses the previous partner's disregard for promises made and the hurtful amusement they found in the singer's pain. However, the chorus reveals a sense of triumph, indicating that the singer has moved on and found someone else who is more deserving of their love. The singer has now found someone who values them more than the previous lover did and sings about how that person's eyes are "just a little bit bluer" and their heart is "just a little bit truer". The song ends with the singer remarking that the previous lover will now cry over them.
Overall, the lyrics reveal a story of pain, struggle, and eventual triumph. The singer has mourned the loss of a relationship but has ultimately found happiness again. The song has a bluesy sound with prominent horn and piano parts that match the melancholy feel of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember other days how I used to weep
I recall the past when I used to cry over the things you said to me.
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
The words you spoke troubled me so much that I couldn't sleep.
You forgot your promises, every single vow
You broke every promise and vow you made to me.
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
You only mocked me in response, but now the situation has changed.
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I shed tears for you before, but now it's your turn to do the same for me.
Every road has a turning
All paths have a change in direction.
That's one thing you're learning
This is a lesson you're discovering.
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I was foolish to have cried for you in the past.
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I have now found someone with more beautiful blue eyes than you.
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I have also found someone with a more genuine heart than you had.
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
It's impossible to forget the countless hours I spent worrying.
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
I spent every waking moment wondering what my next move should be.
In those days you never thought anything of me
In the past, you never valued or considered me.
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I was once the person completely devoted to you, but now I'm free from your control.
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Once again, I cried for you before, but now it's your turn to shed tears over me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind