Arthur Adams (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arthur Adams
Adams performing on stage in 2008
Background information
Also known as	Arthur K. Adams
Born	(1943-12-25) December 25, 1943 (age 82) Medon, Tennessee, United States
Genres	Blues, R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, bandleader, film score
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active	1957–present
Labels	Cleopatra Blues, a division of Cleopatra Records, RCA, Kent Records, Jamie Records, Modern Records, Blind Pig, Blue Thumb, Fantasy, Utopia, A&M, Dutchess Records, Chisa Records, Chisa Records, Valdot Records, Kind of Blue Music

Arthur Adams, born on December 25, 1943, is an American blues guitarist. He comes from Medon, Tennessee. He was inspired by famous artists like B.B. King in the 1950s. Before college, he played gospel music.

Later, he moved to Los Angeles. In the 1960s and 1970s, he released his own music. He also worked as a session musician, playing for other artists. In 1985, he toured as a bass guitarist with Nina Simone. He made a big return in the 1990s with his album Back on Track. Arthur Adams became a respected Chicago blues player. He also led bands in B.B. King's clubs.

Arthur Adams is a talented songwriter. His blues style mixes different types of music. He is also a singer with a soulful, funky sound. He has worked with many top blues musicians. He continues to perform music today.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Arthur Adams was born on December 25, 1943. His hometown is Medon, Tennessee. When he was six, he sang in his church choir. He did not start playing guitar until he was a teenager. In the mid-1950s, his mother taught him to play. He learned by watching her finger positions.

He listened to artists like B.B. King and Muddy Waters on the radio. These musicians inspired him. Arthur Adams formed a group with his cousins. They called themselves the Gospel Travelers. They toured around Tennessee and Arkansas.

The group stopped playing together when Arthur moved. He went to Tennessee State University. There, he studied music. He also played in the school's jazz and blues band.

Starting a Professional Music Career

Arthur Adams began playing blues music professionally. He played at a local student bar called the Club Baron. He also toured with Gene Allison's band. Allison was known for his 1957 song "You Can Make It If You Try".

After a tour, Arthur Adams stayed in Dallas. He lived there from 1959 to 1964. He played in local nightclubs like the Clubhouse. He performed with famous musicians. These included Lightnin' Hopkins and Chuck Berry. He also played with Elmore James and Lowell Fulson. Once, he even played with Buddy Guy.

In 1959, saxophonist Jimmy Beck hired Arthur. Beck had a hit song called "Pipe Dream". During these early years, Arthur played gospel and blues.

Early Recordings and Moving to Los Angeles

In the early 1960s, Arthur Adams released several songs. One was "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another". It was on the Jamie Records label. He also released "I Had A Dream" in 1961. Another song was "The Same Thing" on the Valdot label.

On some of his records, he was called Arthur K. Adams. The "K" was just for marketing. It did not mean anything special. A promoter named Scotty McKay came up with the idea.

In 1964, Arthur Adams moved to Los Angeles, California. A DJ suggested he become a session musician there. He started working full-time as a session musician. He played with many artists, including Quincy Jones. He also recorded for the Bihari Brothers and Hugh Masekela.

Moving to Los Angeles was a good choice for Arthur. He became well-known in clubs. He also became a busy studio musician. He played on many movie soundtracks. He contributed to hundreds of recordings. He worked with artists from Lou Rawls to Henry Mancini.

Working as a Studio Musician

Arthur Adams made blues and soul music on the Modern label. He sang a duet called "Let's Get Together". He sang it with Edna Wright. They used the name Arthur & Mary.

A musician named Bobby Womack suggested Arthur for a TV show. Arthur joined the house band for a show hosted by Roosevelt Grier. This led to more studio work in Los Angeles. He played on recordings for many artists. These included the Jackson 5 and Henry Mancini. He also played for Lou Rawls and Nancy Wilson.

In 1967, Arthur Adams appeared in a TV movie. It was called The Outsider. He played a song called "She Drives Me Out of My Mind". This song was later released on Modern Records.

Albums and Collaborations

In the late 1960s, he recorded Rhythm and blues songs. He worked with members of The Crusaders. In 1969, he released "It's Private Tonight". He then joined Blue Thumb Records. In 1972, he released his first album, It's Private Tonight. Bonnie Raitt helped produce it. Musicians from The Crusaders played on it.

Arthur Adams also played on many of The Crusaders' albums. These included The Crusaders 1 and The Second Crusade. In 1972, he recorded a live album with Jimmy Smith. It was called Root Down. This became one of his most famous albums.

He released four more albums in the 1970s. His music started to sound more like funk. These albums included Home Brew (1975) and Midnight Serenade (1977). He also released I Love Love Love My Lady (1979). He helped write "Truckload of Lovin'". This song was on Albert King's 1976 album.

Return to Blues and Recent Work

In the late 1970s, Arthur Adams changed his style to soul music. In 1981, he had a surprise hit song. It was called "You Got the Floor". It reached number 1 on the UK disco chart. It also reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart.

He recorded more solo albums. But in the 1980s, he went back to his blues roots. He sometimes worked as a session guitarist. In 1985, he became the bassist for Nina Simone. He toured with her in Europe. He also played on her album Nina's Back.

In 1986, he recorded a commercial for Church's Fried Chicken. By 1987, Arthur Adams was leading his own blues band. He started performing live again. He wrote two songs for B. B. King's 1992 album. It was called There is Always One More Time. Arthur Adams became a bandleader at B.B. King's blues club in Los Angeles. He often played with drummer James Gadson.

Arthur Adams recorded a song for the movie Town And Country. It was a cover of "I Can't Stand the Rain". He performed at the St. Louis Blues Heritage Festival in 1997. He also played at the Utrecht Blues Estafette in The Netherlands.

In 1999, he released Back on Track. This was his first solo album in 20 years. B.B. King played guitar on the album. This was his first album on the Blind Pig label. Arthur Adams wrote eight of the eleven songs. He mixed gospel, blues, and soul styles. The album included two duets with B.B. King.

In 2004, he released Soul of the Blues. In September 2012, he released an EP. It was called Feet Back in the Door. Keb' Mo' produced it. In 2019, he released To Make You Feel Good. In 2023, Arthur Adams released Kick Up Some Dust. He also released a single called "Last Night" in 2023. It was a cover of a song by Morgan Wallen.

Discography

Albums

Charted Singles

• "You Got the Floor" (1981) – UK #38