Jo Jo Adams facts for kids

Joel Adams (born around 1918, died in 1988) was a talented American entertainer. People often knew him as Doctor Jo Jo Adams. He was a singer, comedian, and dancer. He also worked as an MC, which means he hosted shows. Jo Jo Adams made many recordings in the 1940s and 1950s. His music was a style called jump blues.

Jo Jo Adams's Music Journey

Early Life and Style

Jo Jo Adams was born in a country area of Alabama. He started singing with a group called the Big Four Gospel Jubilee Singers. In the early 1940s, he moved to Chicago. There, he began performing in clubs on the South Side of Chicago.

Jo Jo Adams had a unique and exciting style. He was inspired by the famous performer Cab Calloway. Jo Jo wore a special tuxedo with very long tails. These tails were so long, about 55 inches, that they would swing around when he danced. He once said that his dancing tails "introduced color to the stage."

Recording His Music

In 1946, Jo Jo Adams made his first recording. The song was called "Jo Jo Blues." He recorded it with bandleader Freddie Williams for the Melody Lane record label. This label soon changed its name to Hy-Tone.

After returning to Chicago, he recorded for the Aristocrat label. This label was run by Leonard Chess. One of his famous songs from this time was "Cabbage Head." This song was his version of an old folk tune known as "Seven Drunken Nights."

On Stage and Screen

Jo Jo Adams also appeared in a movie! In 1949, he was in a film called Burlesque in Harlem. This movie featured only African American performers in a revue show. A revue is a type of entertainment with songs, dances, and skits.

The next year, he started performing regularly with other musicians. These included Memphis Slim and Terry Timmons. They played in many clubs across Chicago. At the end of 1950, he performed at a big New Year's Eve show. He shared the stage with famous artists like Lester Young.

Jo Jo Adams also had his own show, called the "Jo Jo Show." This show featured different singers over time. Some of the singers who performed with him included Joe Williams and Willie Mabon. He made his last recordings in 1952 and 1953. These were for the Chance and Parrot labels. Some of his last songs were arranged by the musician Sun Ra.

Later Years

Jo Jo Adams continued to perform with his "Jo Jo Show" in Chicago nightclubs. He performed throughout most of the 1950s. His last known performance was in 1958. After that, he stopped working in the music business. He only played music sometimes in his own neighborhood. Jo Jo Adams passed away in Chicago in 1988. He was about 70 years old.

Music Collections

A French record company called Chronological Classics released a CD in 2004. This CD collected many of Jo Jo Adams's early recordings. It allowed new fans to discover his music.