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.
Something Different
Cannonball Adderley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You sought me, when I was lost
You showed me how much You really loved me
When You bought me at the highest cost
There's no greater love than this
There's no greater love than this
That a man would give his life for a friend
There's no higher sacrifice
Than a man would give his life
You have paid a precious price for me
You chose me, when I was so unworthy
You cleansed me with Your own blood
And You clothed me with righteousness and mercy
And You crowned me with Your steadfast love
There's no greater love than this
There's no greater love than this
That a man would give his life for a friend
There's no higher sacrifice
Than a man would give his life
You have paid a precious price for me
You have paid a precious price for me
You have paid a precious price for me
The lyrics of Cannonball Adderley's song "Something Different" express gratitude for the love and sacrifice of a higher being. The opening lines convey the singer's awareness of their shortcomings and flaws, highlighting that they were unlovely and lost. Despite these failings, the higher being continued to love and pursue the singer, showing them the depth of their affection through the highest cost - the sacrifice of their own life for the sake of a friend. This ultimate act of love is reiterated throughout the song as the singer expresses their appreciation for being chosen and cleansed, and for the gift of righteousness, mercy, and steadfast love that this sacrifice has enabled them to receive.
The song's main message revolves around the theme of divine love and sacrifice. It emphasizes the depth and power of this love, which transcends human understanding and offers redemption and renewal even to those who feel unlovely and unworthy. By drawing on Christian imagery and themes, the song speaks to a wide range of listeners who may find comfort and strength in the idea of a selfless, all-encompassing love that can transform and heal even the most broken of human souls.
Line by Line Meaning
You loved me, when I was so unlovely
You showed love for me when I was not at my best.
You sought me, when I was lost
You searched for me when I was wandering aimlessly.
You showed me how much You really loved me
You demonstrated the depth of your love for me.
When You bought me at the highest cost
Your love for me was so great, that you were willing to pay the highest price for me.
There's no greater love than this
The love that you showed me is the greatest love there is.
That a man would give his life for a friend
The greatest expression of love is to give one's life for a friend.
There's no higher sacrifice
Sacrificing one's life for another is the highest form of sacrifice.
Than a man would give his life
The highest form of sacrifice is to give one's life.
You have paid a precious price for me
You have made a great sacrifice for me, a sacrifice that I could never repay.
You chose me, when I was so unworthy
You chose me when I was not deserving of your love.
You cleansed me with Your own blood
You purified me by shedding your own blood.
And You clothed me with righteousness and mercy
You covered me with righteousness and showered me with kindness.
And You crowned me with Your steadfast love
You honored me with your constant, unchanging love.
You have paid a precious price for me
You have made a great sacrifice for me, a sacrifice that I could never repay.
You have paid a precious price for me
You have made a great sacrifice for me, a sacrifice that I could never repay.
Writer(s): Jones, Symes
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.