Woodrow Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodrow Adams
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Woodrow Wilson Adams |
| Born | April 9, 1917 Tchula, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | August 9, 1988 (aged 71) Tunica County, Mississippi, U.S. (probably Robinsonville) |
| Genres | Delta Blues |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1940s - c.1961 |
Woodrow Wilson Adams (born April 9, 1917 – died August 9, 1988) was an American musician. He was known for playing Delta blues music on his guitar and harmonica. Even though he started recording music later in his life, he released three songs called singles. One of his most famous songs was "How Long," which shared a bit about his life. Later, all his recorded songs were put together on special albums called compilation albums.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Woodrow Adams was born in Tchula, Mississippi. His parents worked on a large farm, often called a plantation. From a young age, he learned how to play the harmonica and the guitar.
Even though he is remembered for his music, he didn't start recording until he was 35 years old. At that time, he worked as a tractor driver to earn a living.
Recording His Music
On May 24, 1952, Woodrow Adams recorded his first song, "Pretty Baby Blues." He was joined by a group called the 3 B's at Sun Studios in Memphis. One of the musicians in this group was Fiddlin' Joe Martin, who played with Adams on all his recordings and during live shows. This first song was released by Checker Records, and it's now very rare to find a copy.
In 1955, Adams went back to the studio with a new group, the Boogie Blues Blasters. They recorded his second single, which showed his music changing from traditional blues to a more popular R&B style.
Adams released one more single, "Something on My Mind," in 1961. He recorded this song by himself. After that, he went back to working on a plantation. None of his songs became big hits at the time.
Later Interest in His Music
Over the years, more people started to hear Woodrow Adams's music, and it became popular again. In 1974, two of his songs that had not been released before, "Pony Blues" and "How Long," were included on an album called High Water Blues. "How Long" is thought to be his best-known song. This song was inspired by his life on the plantation. It sounded a lot like the music of Howlin' Wolf, who had taught Adams how to play the harmonica.
Woodrow Adams passed away in Tunica County, Mississippi, in 1988. After all his older songs were slowly released, a special album called This Is the Blues, Volume 4 came out in 2015. This album included all the songs he had ever recorded.
Discography
Singles
- "Pretty Baby Blues" b/w "She's Done Come and Gone", Checker Records (Checker 757), 1952
- "Wine Head Woman" b/w "Baby You Just Don't Know", Meteor Records (MR 5033), 1955
- "Something on My Mind" b/w "Sad and Blue", Home of the Blues Records (HB 2523), 1961
Compilation Albums
- This Is the Blues Volume 4, A Collection of Authentic Blues Recordings, Be! Sharp 692, 2015
