Faye Adams facts for kids

Faye Adams (born Fanny Tuell, May 22, 1923) was an American singer. She performed rhythm and blues (R&B) and gospel songs. Her career lasted from the late 1940s until the early 1960s. She had several popular songs in the early 1950s. After this, she decided to stop making music.

About Faye Adams

Her Early Life

Faye Adams was born in Newark, New Jersey. Her father, David Tuell, was a gospel singer. He was a key person in his church, the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). When Faye was only five years old, she started singing spiritual songs with her sisters. They often performed on radio shows in Newark.

Her Music Career

Later, Faye used her married name, Faye Scruggs. She became a regular singer in New York City nightclubs. This was in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While performing in Atlanta, she was discovered by singer Ruth Brown. Ruth helped her get an audition with bandleader Joe Morris. He was with Atlantic Records.

Joe Morris changed Scruggs's name to Faye Adams. He hired her as a singer in 1952. She then signed with Herald Records. Her first song was "Shake a Hand", written by Joe Morris. This song became a huge hit in 1953. It topped the US Billboard R&B music chart for ten weeks. It also reached number 22 on the US pop chart. The song sold one million copies and earned a gold record.

In 1954, Faye Adams had two more R&B chart-topping songs. These were "I'll Be True" and "It Hurts Me to My Heart". During this time, she left Joe Morris's band. She was then known as "Atomic Adams". She even appeared in a movie called Rhythm & Blues Revue in 1955.

In 1957, she moved to Imperial Records. However, her songs did not become as popular. By the late 1950s, people thought her time as a top artist had passed. Still, she kept recording for smaller record labels until the early 1960s. Famous radio host Alan Freed called Adams "the little gal with the big voice." She also toured with popular shows that featured groups like The Drifters.

Later Life

By 1963, Faye Adams had stopped working in the music industry. She got married again in 1968. As Fannie Jones, she returned to singing gospel music and focused on her family life in New Jersey. In the 1970s, she helped write several gospel and other songs with her husband, Clarence E. Jones. She also released a song called "Sinner Man" on Savoy Records.

In February 1998, Faye Adams received an award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. At that time, it was reported that she was living in England.

Award