Adderley, Cannonball (1928-1975), was an important jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader known for his warm tone and his swinging, blues-drenched solos. From 1959 until his death on Aug. 8, 1975, Adderley led a popular quintet with his brother, Nat, a noted jazz trumpeter.
Adderley was born in Tampa, Florida, on Sept. 15, 1928. His real name was Julian Edwin Adderley. When he was a boy, his classmates nicknamed him “Cannibal” because of his hearty appetite. Other people misunderstood the nickname and began calling him “Cannonball.” Adderley played alto saxophone in bands in Florida and directed a high school band there in the late 1940’s and again in the early 1950’s. He settled in New York City in 1955 and became an immediate hit in local jazz clubs because of his spirited, fluent solos. From 1957 to 1959, he played in a famous sextet led by trumpeter Miles Davis.
Adderley was one of the most recorded jazz musicians of his time, making many studio albums as well as concert and nightclub recordings. Several numbers from his albums became hits as examples of “soul” jazz, which emphasizes a blues and gospel feeling. One of his biggest hits was “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” (1966), composed by the quintet’s piano player, Joe Zawinul. Adderley also wrote the popular soul jazz compositions “Sermonette” and “Sack o’ Woe.”
In addition to recording with his quintet, Adderley also recorded with such jazz stars as vibraphonist Milt Jackson, saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Bill Evans, bassist Ray Brown, and vocalist Nancy Wilson. Adderley died on Aug. 8, 1975.
