The Life and Times of Johnny Adams.
Johnny Adams' recording career lasted exactly forty years. His career began in early 1958, when he released his first single 'I Won't Cry' on Ric. It was a hit single in New Orleans and the Southern states. For the twenty-six year old soul man this was the start of a recording career that would span five decades.
Right through to Adams' death, on '14th,' September, 1998, he was still working. He had just completed his ninth album for Rounder Records, 'Man Of My Word.' By then, Adams was a much-loved and popular artist whose career began forty years earlier.
However, it was at Ric and Ron where Adams' career began. By then, he was nearly twenty-six.
Adams was born in New Orleans, on '5th,' January 1932. He was the eldest of ten children. Just like many future R&B and soul singers, his introduction to music was through the church. That's where he discovered his powerful baritone voice with a wide vocal range. However, music was nothing more than a hobby to Adams. He certainly didn't want to sing what he thought of as the devil's music.
That's how R&B and rock 'n' roll music was viewed, when Adams was growing up. R&B and rock 'n' roll singers were doing Satan's work. So, Adams, a deeply religious young man, stuck to singing gospel music.
Initially, he was a member of The Soul Consolators. They were mentored by Bessie Griffin, who would later, become one of the biggest names in gospel music.
After leaving The Soul Consolators, Adams joined The Soul Revivers, who featured the Reverend Clay Evans, another future gospel star. However, Adams had no ambition to take music any further. It was just a hobby. That was until one night someone knocked on his door.
As was his habit, Adams often sung when he was at home. He loved music, so it seemed natural. That night, New Orleans' songwriter, Dorothy La Bostrie was passing his door when she heard him singing. Although the pair had never met, she decided to speak to Adams as she had just written some new songs. She knocked on his door and asked if he would like to sing her songs?
Previously, Adams had only sung gospel music. He had never sung secular music. This was going against everything he believed in. However, after a while, he had a change of heart. Johnny Adams was about to crossover.
La Bostrie decided that she would record Adams singing her two new songs, 'I Won't Cry' and 'Who You Are.' He was accompanied by just a lone acoustic guitar. Once she had coaxed an emotive performance out of Adams she took the tape to Joe Ruffino, who owned the Ric label.
When Ruffino heard the two songs, he was won over. However, it wasn't just the songs that impressed him. It was the singer. Ruffino decided to sign Adams to Ric, his first single would be 'I Won't Cry.'
Given the version of 'I Won't Cry,' La Bostrie had recorded was just a demo, Ruffino decided that a new recording be made. He brought onboard his A&R man and guitarist Edgar Blanchard who would work with Adams. The A&R man took a band to Cosimo Matassa's studio, where new versions of 'I Won't Cry' and 'Who You Are' were recorded. They were released in early 1958.
After the two songs were recorded, Ruffino decided that 'I Won't Cry' would be Johnny Adams' debut single. When it was released in early 1958, Adams' career got ofF to a dream start.
Before long, New Orleans' premier R&B radio station picked up on 'I Won't Cry.' The tale of hurt and betrayal seemed to strike a chord with people. Soon, it was a hit in New Orleans, then became popular across the Southern states. Despite not becoming a hit nationally, Ruffino realised that Adams had potential. So, he signed him to Ric, and a few months later, would release his sophomore single.
This was 'Come On,' which was penned by Seth David and Mac Rebennack, who later, reinvented himself as Dr. John. The B-Side was 'Nowhere To Go.' Adams' sophomore single was very different to his debut.
'Come On' was an uptempo dance track with a poppy sheen. It seemed that Ruffino was trying to sell Adams to the youth market. This worked, and he enjoyed another local hit.
Things got even better when in September 1959, British label Top Rank licensed 'Come On.' However, the single failed to chart in Britain. Never again would any of Adams' songs be released in Britain. Instead, he was left to try and break the lucrative American market.
At the end of 1959, Ruffino's trusted lieutenant Edgar Blanchard left Ric. However, Ruffino had a readymade replacement in Mac Rebennack. He became Ruffino's new A&R man, and also cowrote Adams' third single 'The Bells Are Ringing' with William Allen and Ruffino. The new A&R man produced the single with a new studio band.
The A.F.O. Combo, short for All For One, had been put together by Harold Battiste, the head of A&R for both the Ric and Ron labels. His new band, epitomised the then New Orleans sound, had been honing their sound. Everything seemed to come together for The A.F.O. Combo on 'The Bells Are Ringing.' Would it give Adams his first nationwide hit single?
It was a case of the same old, same old. Just like his first two singles, when 'The Bells Are Ringing,' was released in 1960, it sold well locally, but didn't make a breakthrough nationwide. This would be the case with Adams' next four singles.
Between 1960 and 1961, he released a quartet of singles that failed to chart. They were all local hits and fared well in the Southern states. The first was 'Someone For Me' and 'You Can Make It If You Try' which were released in 1960. This was also the case with 'Wedding Day' and 'Life Was A Struggle' when they were released in 1961. After seven singles, Adams still hadn't had enjoyed widespread commercial success.
By then, Mac Rebennack had realised that Adams had what many referred to as "star quality." His singles sold well locally, and he was a popular and charismatic live performer. All he needed was a record company willing to back him. That meant money to promote his singles. So far, Ruffino had been reluctant to do so. Maybe, he was in his comfort zone?
Although Adams' singles were selling well in the South, it would take a lot of money to break him nationwide. For Ruffino, this would be risky. It would be like betting the bank. However, when he found the right song, he was willing to do this.
'A Losing Battle' was an unlikely song for Adams. The former gospel singer was being asked to sing a song that more than hints at adultery. Surely, he would baulk at recording this track? He didn't, and recorded the recorded the John Dauenhauer and Mac Rebennack composition, bringing their lyrics to life as if he had lived them. When Ruffino heard the single, he decided that this was the track that would break Adams nationally.
That proved to be the case. 'A Losing Battle' entered the US R&B charts on '30th,' June 1962, and reached number twenty-seven. Somewhat belatedly, Adams was enjoying his first nationwide hit. It was also the label's first hit since October 1960. This must have been a satisfying day for Ruffino. Having backed Adams, Ric been rewarded by a hit. However, for everyone at Ric, the happiness turned to sadness in August 1962.
Ever since Ruffino founded Ric, he had worked tirelessly. He died suddenly of a heart attack. His family and the wider New Orleans' music community were shocked.
With Ruffino gone, his two sons were left to run the Ric and Ron labels. They tried to follow in their father's footsteps. That, however, proved impossible. Eventually, his brother-in-law Joe Assunto took over the running of Ric and Ron. By then, the Ron label was on its last legs. It released its final single in August 1962. Ric however, continued, for the time being.
'Showdown' was the last single Adams released on the Ric label. It was another Mac Rebennack composition. Adams gave the song a bluesy hue. Despite being well received by Cashbox magazine, the single failed to chart. However, it was a regional hit in Louisiana and Texas. It was a disappointment for Adams. He would rather have ended his time on Ric with a hit.
After leaving Ric, Adams signed to Assunto's new label, Watch Records. That was home for Adams for the next couple of years. During that period, he released three singles. However, 'I Believe I'll Find Happiness,' 'Some Day' and 'Got To Get Back To You' didn't result in an upturn in Adams' fortunes. So when Ron reopened his doors in 1964, he returned to the label that was once his musical home.
However, he only released two singles on the newly resurrected Ron label. Both were released during 1964. The first was 'Lonely Drifter.' It failed to chart. So did the followup 'Coming Around The Mountain.' It was the final single that Adams released on Ron.
Later in 1964, Adams released 'I'm Grateful' as a single on Gone Records. However, if failed to chart and was his only release on the label.
Next stop for Adams was Pacemaker Records. The three singles Adams released on Pacemaker Records were recorded in Houston, not New Orleans. The first was the captivating Alton Valier composition 'A Place Called Home.' On the B-Side was the call to dance, 'Spunky Onions.' Both tracks were produced by Huey Meaux. However, despite the quality of the single it failed to trouble the charts on its release in 1966.
That was the case when the followup was released later in 1966. Both sides were penned by Meaux. The single was 'Sometimes) A Man Will Shed A Few Tears Too,' was chosen as the single, and featured an emotive vocal from Adams. Tucked away on the flip-side was the hidden gem 'When I'll Stop Loving You.' The failure of the single was another disappointment for Adams.
He only released one more single on Pacemaker Records. This was a cover of Willie John's 'Let Them Talk,' which featured 'Operator' on the flip-side. Again, the single failed commercially, and Adams left the label.
At the time, he was singing in local clubs and on the "Sugarcane Circuit." It wasn't a glamorous life travelling to gigs on the Greyhound bus. Nor was it particularly profitable. It paid the bills and put money in his pocket. However, there was no money for luxuries. So Adams took a job in the One Stop Record Shop, which was situated on South Rampart Street, in New Orleans. That was where he had a fortuitous meeting.
The One Stop Record Shop was owned by Joe Assunto. He knew Adams from their days at Ric and Ron, and decided to help him find a new label. Soon, Adams was signing another deal with Watch Records. The label paired him with arranger Wardell Quezergue.
Adams' first single for Watch Records was the country song 'Release Me.' On the B-Side was 'You Make A New Man Out Of Me.' When this slice of country soul was released in 1968, it climbed to the upper reaches of the local charts and was a hit across the South. That was when Nashville-based Shelby Singleton bought the master, and released it on his SSS International label. It reached eighty-two on the US Billboard 100 and thirty-four on the US R&B charts. While this was the break Adams had been waiting for, little did he know that Singleton had also bought his contract.
Two singles were released on SSS International during 1969. The first was the Margaret Lewis and Myra Smith composition 'Reconsider Me,' which featured 'If I Could See You One More Time' on the B-Side. This heartachingly beautiful country-tinged song gave Adams the biggest hit of his career, when it reached number twenty-eight on the US Billboard 100 and eight on the US R&B charts.
Another Lewis and Smith composition 'I Can't Be All Bad,' was chosen as the followup. On the B-Side was 'In A Moment Of Weakness.' The single was released later in 1969, and featured a needy, pleading vocal. It was, without doubt, one of Adams' finest singles, and unsurprisingly reached number eighty-nine on the US Billboard 100 and forty-five on the US R&B charts.
In 1970 Adams release his debut album 'Heart and Soul.' It featured the four singles he had released on SSS International. Other tracks included 'Lonely Man,' 'Living On Your Love' and 'A Losing Battle.' They showcase a truly talented and versatile soul man who breathes life, meaning and emotion into a song. That was always the case
'Real Life Livin' Hurtin' Man' was penned by the Lewis and Smith songwriting team, and chosen for Adams next single. The pair also contributed the B-Side, 'Georgia Morning Dew.' Sadly, when the single was released in 1970 it failed to chart. This powerful, dramatic ballad was the one that got away for Johnny Adams.
Later in 1970, SSS International released 'Proud Woman' as a single. It was another Shelby Singleton production where brassy horns accompanied Adams' vocal as he combined power, passion and emotion. Sadly, despite the quality of the single, it failed to trouble the charts.
A new version of 'I Won't Cry,' which Adams had originally released as a single on Ric, featured on 'Heart and Soul.' It was released as a single later in 1970, with 'I Want To Walk Through This Life With You' on the B-Side. The single reached number forty-one in the US R&B charts. It was Adams first hit since 'I Can't Be All Bad' in 1969.
In 1971, Adams recorded two singles for Atlantic Records. However, he also released the funky, soulful and hook-laden 'South Side Of Soul Street' on SSS International in 1971. It featured the cheating ballad 'Something Worth Leaving For' on the B-Side. It's one of the hidden gems in Adams' back-catalogue.
Two years passed before he released another single on SSS International. This was 'I Don't Worry Myself,' which featured 'Too Much Pride' on the flip-side. The single was another fusion of funk and soul that featured an impassioned vocal from Adams. Despite the quality of the single, it failed commercially.
Later in 1973, Adams released his final single on SSS International. This was 'Kiss The Hurt Away,' which was produced by Singleton. Just like his previous single it failed commercially. It was another disappointment for the New Orleans-born soul man. There was more disappointment the following year.
Quezergue decided that SSS International had no future, and the label closed its doors in 1974. This came as a surprise to Adams who was hugely disappointed when he learnt that he was about to be dropped. It was the end of an era.
In 1976, Adams released a new album. 'Stand By Me' on Chelsea Records. It failed commercially, and was the only album her released on the LA-based label.
Two years later, in 1978, Adams signed to Ariola, and released a new album. However, just like his previous album, 'After All the Good Is Gone' wasn't a commercial success. It would be six years before Adams returned with a new album.
1984 saw Adams release 'From the Heart,' his first album on Rounder Records. It was well received by critics. Rounder Records was Adamas musical home for fourteen years.
Adams released three more solo albums on Rounder Records during the nineties. They were 1986s 'After Dark,' 1988s 'Room With A View Of The Blues' and 1989s 'Walking On A Tightrope.' Since signing to Rounder Records, Adams had released four solo albums in five years. He was enjoying the most prolific period of his career, and this would continued into the nineties.
'The Real Me: Johnny Adams Sings Doc Pomus' was released in 1991 to plaudits and praise. This was followed by 'Good Morning Heartache in 1993, then 1995s 'The Verdict' and 1996s 'One Foot In The Blues.' Belatedly, Adams music was starting to find a wider audience. This continued with 'Man Of My World' which was recorded just before Adams death, and released in 1998. It was, without doubt, one of the finest albums of his long and illustrious career.
Sadly, Johnny Adams never reached the heights of his contemporaries, like Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack. However, he enjoyed a career that spanned forty years and five decades. During that period, Adams proved a versatile and talent performer, who was loved and respected in equal measures. While he never enjoyed fame and fortune, he enjoyed an enviable longevity, and during his long career, he continued to reinvent himself.
Johnny Adams started off singing gospel, and then soul, R&B, jazz and latterly the blues. He was a truly-talented and versatile vocalist who was, without doubt, one of New Orleans' finest.
The Life and Times of Johnny Adams.
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