Julian "Cannonball" Adderley Collection

2 cubic boxes

The material of this collection is comprised of both archival records and museum memorabilia relating to the life and death of Jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. The material in this collection includes awards, books, correspondences, magazines, newspapers, pictures, programs, and artifacts.

The material in this collection was extremely diversified and had no original order. The printed records and memorabilia in this rare collection were identified at the item level. The memorabilia was first sorted by material type, then organized according to subject heading. That material was transferred to acid free folders and envelopes, arranged in alphabetical order, and placed in acid-free boxes. A content listing of the boxes was made, appropriate labels attached, and the boxes were stored in the archival storage area.

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Biographical Notes, researched and written by Dr. Murell Dawson, 2002:

Julian Edwin Adderley, known internationally as "Cannonball" Adderley is considered by many musicians and musical critics to be one of the greatest alto saxophonists, jazz musicians, orchestra leaders and recording artists of the twentieth century. Cannonball, as he was affectionately called by family, friends, music, and jazz fans from all parts of the world, was born in Tampa, Florida on September 15, 1928 to Mr. and Mrs. Adderley, who were both educators. Julian Adderley, Sr. was a cornet player and accomplished musician and band member, as was his father. When Cannonball was young, his family moved from South Florida to Tallahassee where Cannonball and his brother Nat graduated from Florida A&M College (FAMCEE) High School, and went on to enroll in the college. In college Cannonball played the clarinet, was the section leader in the Symphonic Band, rank sergeant in the Marching Band, and also a member of the musical group known as FAMCEE Collegians, He graduated from FAMCEE in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.

After graduating from college, Cannonball accepted a position at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale as Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music. At this time he also started his own jazz band which performed in different parts of South Florida. His tenure at Dillard was interrupted in 1950 when he served in the United States Army in the Korean Conflict. In the military, Cannonball was a member of the 36th Army Band stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Also at the post, Cannonball was assigned as the Assistant Director of Post Bands and Instructor of Music Theory in the band training unit. He was also the Leader/Arranger of the 36th Army Dance Band which performed often on radio and television.

After serving in the military, Cannonball quickly moved into the national spotlight. In 1955, he moved to New York City to work with Oscar Pettiford. Later he signed a contract with EnArcy Records, and in the spring of 1956, Cannonball formed his own combo with his younger brother Nat, and the group began touring the nation. By 1957 the group was back in New York and shortly afterward disbanded. Cannonball's next professional undertaking's would afford him the opportunity to work with and learn from musical great such as miles Davis and John Coltrane, whom he toured with during the late 1950s. By 1960, Cannon ball and his brother Nat would organize another small jazz combo ensemble known as Cannonball Adderley Quintet (or Sextet). The grassroots jazz band experienced it's greatest fame during the mid 1960s.

Cannonball later recorded with other music companies including Capitol Records and Riverside Records. He has played at Carnegie Hall, and performed with the Cincinatti and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras. He named pioneer saxophonist Charlie Parker and Benny Carter as two of his favorite musical artists. Some of Cannonball's most popular songs include "Country Preacher," "Jive Smaba," "Mercy, Mercy" "Saudade," "Snake in the Grass," and "African Waltz." Certainly Cannonball was a master composer, lyricist, and songwriter. He was equally versed as a lecturer, teacher, and writer. He served as artist-in-residence att UCLA, and often lectured and gave special seminars/performances at other colleges and universities. At various points of his life, Cannonball worked as a newspaper columnist and appeared on radio and television programs as a guest artist. He also served as the host of a weekly NBC television talk show that aired out of Los Angeles.

Cannonball was a founding artist for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, a member of the Jazz Advisory Council of the National Endowment for the Performing Arts, and served on the Arts Council of the Institute of Black American Music and the Black Academy of the Arts. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

During his lifetime, Cannonball Adderley was the recipient of numerous awards. Two recognitions that propelled him into national attention came in1956, when in the "Musicians' Musicians" poll of Encyclopedia of Jazz Yearbook, he tied with Phil Woods for the "New Star" award. In 1959 Cannonball won the "New Ball" award for Down Beat Magazine critics' poll, and had consistently been selected as an outstanding musician by Variety, Ebony, and Playboy magazines. Florida A&M University magazine bestowed on him the University's prestigious Meritorious Achievement Award, and in 1974 the Florida Legislature honored him for being a worldwide ambassador of music.

In 1962 Cannonball married Olga James. The couple had no children. On August 8, 1975, Cannonball died of coronary arrest in Gary, Indiana. His seemingly brief musical career spanned some twenty years. Cannonball is remembered by many for the bold, creative, and revitalizing life he lived - a life that can be recaptured and re-visited time and time again through the artistic and musical gifts he left to the world.

Cataloged By:
Murell Dawson, Ph.D
Research Associate

Joshua Williams
Undergraduate Intern
2002

Online Publishing:
Johana-Marie Williams
IMLS Archivist
2024