Cannonball Adderley

He died of a stroke on August 8, 1975. He was buried in the Southside Cemetery, Tallahassee, Florida.

Posthumously, he was inducted into the Down Beat jazz Hall of Fame.

Following his death, a number of established singers and musicians came up with records to pay tribute to the legendary saxophonist that Adderley was. Weather Report’s ‘Black Market’ album released in 1976 had a track by the name of ‘Cannonball’ in memory of the great saxophonist. It was composed by Joe Zawinul.

Cannonball Adderley was born as Julian Edwin Adderley on September 15, 1928 in Tampa, Florida, United States.

Academically proficient, he attained his early education from a reputed school. Thereafter he completed his musical studies. During his early years, he was a voracious eater and had a large appetite. Due to this, seniors and friends at his school fondly gave him the nickname ‘cannibal’.

Concluding his studies, he took up employment at the Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as an applied instrumental music teacher.

After a couple of months, he moved to Tallahasse, Florida, where his family had relocated to. His parents took up teaching position at Florida A&M University. In the early 1940s, he along with his brother Nat played with Ray Charles.

It was in 1955 that he finally shifted to New York City. While at New York, he visited Cafe Bohemia, where Oscar Pettiford's group was playing. Incidentally, he carried his saxophone with him that day, primarily fearing it being stolen. However, he was asked to fill in as a saxophone player. The performance was so riveting that it established his reputation as a saxophonist.

He then formed his own group along with brother Nat. In 1957, he signed onto Savoy Jazz Label, before being spotted by Miles Davis who impressed by the former’s blues-rooted alto saxophone, invited him to play for the group.

He formally joined the Miles Davis Sextet in October 1957. These were the foundation years of his glorious career ahead. He played on the seminal Davis records ‘Milestones’ and ‘Kind of Blue’.

He was initiated as an honorary member of the Phi Mu Apha Sinfonia fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha.