Placide Adams facts for kids

Placide Adams (born August 30, 1929 – died March 29, 2003) was an American jazz musician. He played the double bass, which is a big string instrument. Placide worked with many famous jazz musicians from New Orleans for over 50 years! His family was very musical. His mother, Dolly Adams, was a pianist. His brothers, Jerry and Justin Adams, also played music. Their family had been making music in New Orleans since the 1800s.

Placide Adams' Music Journey

Starting with Rhythm & Blues

Even though Placide Adams learned traditional New Orleans jazz when he was young, he started his music career playing Rhythm & Blues, or R&B. From 1949 to 1959, he played and toured with many famous R&B stars. Some of these included BB King, Chuck Berry, Ruth Brown, Clyde McPhatter, and Big Joe Turner.

Returning to New Orleans Jazz

Around 1959-1960, there was a new interest in traditional New Orleans jazz. Placide Adams then focused only on playing and promoting this music from his hometown. For the next 40 years, he played with many well-known groups. He often performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He also played with trumpeter Oscar Papa Celestin and clarinetist Louis Cottrell. You could find him at Heritage Hall and at the Commander's Palace Jazz Brunch. He also played with other New Orleans legends. These included trumpeter Al Hirt, singer Blanche Thomas, and trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph. Other musicians he worked with were drummer Louis Barbarin, trombonist Louis Nelson, pianist Joe Robichaux, banjo player Emanuel 'Manny' Sayles, and pianist Walter Lewis.

Special Performances and Recordings

In 1964, Placide Adams went on tour in Japan with clarinetist George Lewis's band. While there, they recorded two music sessions. The last of these recordings, made on June 15, 1964, was George Lewis's final recording session. Even though the band members were very tired, the recording was excellent. It showed some of Lewis's clearest and most creative playing. Placide Adams even had a solo on one song! This important recording was not released until 1976, eight years after Lewis passed away.

In 1974, Placide Adams performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He played with Louis Cottrell and The Heritage Hall Jazz Band.

Leading the Onward Brass Band

Placide Adams also played the bass drum in the Onward Brass Band. This band performed for street funerals and in Mardi Gras parades. After Louis Cottrell died in 1978, Adams became the leader of the band.

Placide Adams continued to play music right up until his death. He was scheduled to perform at the 2003 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival just three weeks later.

Personal Life

Placide Adams was a Catholic.

Selected Music Recordings

• With Louis Cottrell and The Heritage Hall Jazz Band
  • Live At Carnegie Hall (1974)
• With George Lewis
  • George Lewis and His New Orleans All-Stars (Recorded 1964, released 1976)
• With The Onward Brass Band
  • Last Journey Of A Jazzman: Funeral of Lester Santiago, Paul Barbarin and the Onward Brass Band, Nobility, recorded 1965, released 2004.