Known as the Tan Canary for his extraordinary vocal range and tonal purity, Johnny Adams was one of New Orleans' most gifted singers — a man capable of moving effortlessly between R&B, blues, jazz, and gospel, bringing deep feeling to everything he touched.
Biography
Adams was born in New Orleans in 1932 and came up singing gospel before Allen Toussaint produced his early R&B records for Ric Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s. After years of regional success and near-misses with national stardom, he found his true artistic home at Rounder Records in the 1980s, where a series of albums produced by Scott Billington paired his remarkable voice with sophisticated jazz and blues settings. Walking on a Tightrope, his collection of Percy Mayfield songs, is considered one of the great vocal albums in New Orleans history. He continued recording until shortly before his death in 1998, leaving behind a catalog that rewards exploration at every turn.
Discography
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