Photo: Unknown photographer / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
To me, Cannonball Adderley embodies the sunlit side of jazz. A Florida-born alto saxophonist of the hard bop era, he played on landmark Miles Davis sessions, yet what I treasure most is 1966's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." That single dissolved the line between jazz, soul, and pop, and only a generous genius could pull it off. Losing him at forty-six in 1975 still feels like a theft. His tone was fat, warm, and welcoming, full of meticulous craft and irrepressible joy at once. Decades later it still loosens something in the chest, and that is the truest test of greatness.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cannonball Adderley
- Name (Japanese)
- キャノンボール・アダレイ
- Reading
- きゃのんぼーる・あだれい
- Born
- September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Dragon
- Origin
- Tampa, Florida, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- bandleader / conductor / saxophonist / composer / jazz musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Dillard High School
- University
- Florida A&M University
Awards & achievements
- 1967 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Cannonball Adderley born?
September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975.
Where is Cannonball Adderley from?
Cannonball Adderley is from Tampa, Florida, United States.
What does Cannonball Adderley do?
Cannonball Adderley works as bandleader, conductor, saxophonist, composer, jazz musician.
Bandleader — see all → · Conductor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.