Cannonball Adderley (1928–1975) was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the post-bop era. He is remembered for his 1966 single “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”, a crossover hit on the pop charts. He formed his own group with his brother Nat, a trumpeter, in the 1950s, and found commercial success in the mid-1960s. His signature sound was a mix of hard bop and soul jazz, and he was one of the first jazz musicians to adopt the funky rhythms of soul and R&B. He was also known for his passionate live performances, which often included lengthy solos. His recording legacy includes eight albums for the Riverside label, including Somethin’ Else (1958) and his last, Fiddler on the Roof (1975). He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1980.
| Name | Cannonball Adderley |
| Genre | Jazz, Soul-Jazz |
| Instruments | Alto Saxophone, Flute |
| Years Active | 1955-1975 |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1928 |
| Associated Acts | Miles Davis, Nat Adderley, John Coltrane |
| Notable Albums | Somethin’ Else, Big Man: The Legend of John Henry |
10 Best Cannonball Adderley Quotes
“I think music should be a vehicle for people to come together.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from YouTube
“I don’t think of myself as being a soloist or a group leader, I’m a team player.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from YouTube
“The notes don’t mean anything unless there’s the feeling behind them.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“My music is alive. It breathes and it changes.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“My music is a reflection of the times.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I think music should be heard, not talked about.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I think it’s important for musicians to always be honest with their music.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I want to be more than just a background musician.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from Jazz Times
“I want to play music that will make people think and feel.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from Jazz Professional
“My music is a combination of jazz, blues, gospel, and even a little soul.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from Jazz Professional
8 Inspirational Cannonball Adderley Quotes
1.
“I think that music is something which should be considered a very, very important part of the educational system.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from NPR
2.
“I think, without music, life would be a mistake.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from YouTube
3.
“You can’t really worry about the commercial aspect of it; you just have to do what you feel.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from YouTube
4.
“I believe that music can be a teacher to all people.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
5.
“I think a musician should always be a student of music.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
6.
“I don’t think you can teach creativity, but you can certainly inspire it.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
7.
“It’s important to make music that communicates to people.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
8.
“I think it’s important for musicians to have a sense of humor and to be able to laugh at themselves.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
5 Famous Cannonball Adderley Quotes
“I feel that it’s the duty of every musician to fight for the right of freedom of expression, for himself and for all other musicians.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I feel that I’m a representative of jazz music, and it’s my duty to present it as best as I can, in the light that I can.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I’m not a particularly aggressive person, but I can get very, very angry if I’m provoked.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from JazzWax
“It’s very important to be able to express yourself without fear of retribution from within or without.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“I’m not a revolutionary, but I’m a fighter. I fight for the right of musicians to express themselves.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from VH1
8 Cannonball Adderley Quotes About Love
“Love is the most important thing in the world.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is a feeling and a power that can move mountains.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that makes sense.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that will last forever.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is the most important thing in life – the only thing that can really make you happy.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is the greatest thing that you can give to another human being.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is something that you can never have too much of.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Love is the only thing that can bring people together.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from NPR
7 Cannonball Adderley Quotes About Life
“Music is the language of the soul, and it should be used to express the highest level of emotion.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“You don’t have to be a genius to play jazz. You just have to feel it.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“An individual can be heard, but when you get two people playing together something else happens.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Jazz means freedom. Freedom to express yourself, freedom of speech, freedom of musical thought.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Life is too short to be stuck in one place, and jazz is the best way to find out more about life.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from All About Jazz
“Life is like a revolving wheel, and there are always opportunities to move on.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from Jazz.com
“You have to keep learning and keep growing in order to stay in the game.”
– Cannonball Adderley, from Jazz.com
7 Quotes About Cannonball Adderley
“Cannonball Adderley was the quintessential jazzman. He was a great showman, a great soloist and a great accompanist.”
– Wynton Marsalis, from allaboutjazz.com
“Cannonball Adderley’s music is always swinging and exciting.”
– Quincy Jones, from allaboutjazz.com
“Cannonball Adderley was a master of the hard bop style of jazz. He was a virtuoso saxophonist, a great improviser, and a compelling leader.”
– All About Jazz, from allaboutjazz.com
“Cannonball Adderley was one of the premier jazz saxophonists of his era. His playing was rooted in hard bop, but was highly influenced by gospel, soul, and Latin music.”
– Jazz Times, from jazztimes.com
“Cannonball Adderley was a master of jazz improvisation, and his influence on jazz saxophonists is still felt today. His ability to create a musical statement with a few notes was unparalleled.”
– Jazz History Online, from jazzhistoryonline.com
“Cannonball Adderley was a jazz legend who helped to popularize the hard bop style of jazz. He was a masterful improviser, a virtuoso saxophonist, and a charismatic bandleader.”
– Jazz.com, from jazz.com
“Cannonball Adderley was a master of the hard bop idiom, but always managed to incorporate elements of blues, gospel, and soul into his playing.”
– Jazz Wax, from jazzwax.com
Interview with Cannonball Adderley
Frequently Asked Questions About Cannonball Adderley
1. What is the most famous quote attributed to Cannonball Adderley?
The most famous quote attributed to jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley is, “Jazz is a music of joy, and it must be shared with others to be fully experienced.” This quote reflects Adderley’s philosophy towards jazz music, which was about bringing people together and enjoying the music together. Adderley believed that jazz was meant to be shared, and that it should be celebrated with friends and family. Other notable quotes from Adderley include:
- “In jazz, the important thing is the feeling you put into it. You must always be sincere.”
- “Jazz is a way of expressing yourself – it’s like talking.”
- “Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life.”
- “You can’t play what you don’t know, so you must have a lot of knowledge of music to be a jazz musician.”
2. What genre of music did Cannonball Adderley specialize in?
Cannonball Adderley was an American alto saxophonist, saxophone player and composer. He was known for his work in jazz, soul and funk genres. Adderley is remembered for his 1966 single “Mercy Mercy Mercy” as well as his contributions to jazz fusion. He specialized in the following genres:
- Jazz
- Soul
- Funk
- Jazz fusion
3. What is the source of Cannonball Adderley’s quote “Music is the language of the spirit”?
Cannonball Adderley’s quote “Music is the language of the spirit” is believed to have originated from his 1967 album, “Country Preacher”. The album was released on Capitol Records and featured some of his best works, such as “Them Dirty Blues”, “The Work Song”, and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”.
The album was recorded live at the Regal Theatre in Chicago with his quintet, which included Nat Adderley on cornet, Victor Gaskin on bass, Joe Zawinul on piano, and Roy McCurdy on drums. The quote is found in the liner notes of the album, where Cannonball states:
“Music is the language of the spirit, and the language of the spirit is soulful music. It is the universal language, it is the language of mankind. If a man could learn to speak it, he could understand the entire universe.”
4. When did Cannonball Adderley first achieve fame in the jazz music world?
Cannonball Adderley is known as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. He first achieved fame in the jazz music world in the mid 1950s, with his critically acclaimed album Somethin’ Else. This album featured his legendary collaboration with Miles Davis on the song Autumn Leaves.
After this success, Adderley went on to become one of the most prominent jazz musicians of his era, releasing several more highly praised albums, including:
- Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago
- Cannonball’s Sharpshooters
- Cannonball Adderley and The Bossa Rio Sextet
- Cannonball Adderley and Strings
Adderley’s influence is still felt in the jazz world today, with his music being sampled and covered by many modern jazz artists.
5. How did Cannonball Adderley’s career evolve over time?
Cannonball Adderley was a jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader whose career spanned from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. Over this time period, his career evolved from playing in a variety of small jazz clubs to leading his own big bands and recording and performing with some of the most famous jazz musicians of the era.
- Early Years (1955-1959): Adderley began his career playing in small jazz clubs in the Midwestern United States with local musicians. He also began to record with various musicians, including Miles Davis, who he would collaborate with often over the course of his career.
- Breakthrough and Fame (1959-1963): Adderley’s career began to take off in 1959 when he released his album “Cannonball Adderley and Strings”. This album was a huge success and propelled him into the jazz spotlight. He began to tour extensively and play in larger venues across the country.
- Leading His Own Band (1963-1970): Adderley formed his own big band in 1963, which was an immediate success. He toured with his band across the United States and Europe, performing in major jazz festivals. He also released several more albums and became one of the most sought-after jazz musicians of the era.
- Later Years (1970-1975): In the early 1970s, Adderley’s career began to slow down. He continued to play with his own band and to record, but his popularity was beginning to wane. He began to focus more on teaching and mentoring younger musicians.
- Retirement (1975-present): In 1975, Adderley retired from playing and recording. His legacy, however, lives on through his recordings and the many great musicians he mentored. He is remembered as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cannonball Adderley’s music and quotes have had a lasting impact on jazz music and the music industry as a whole. His unique style, combined with his wit and wisdom, have left a lasting impression on musicians and fans alike. His words have been quoted and shared by musicians, fans, and historians for decades, and his music continues to inspire and entertain. Cannonball Adderley was a true musical genius who will always be remembered for his lasting legacy and influence.
