Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928 - August 8, 1975), originally from Tampa, Florida was a jazz saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s.

Cannonball was a local legend in Florida until he moved to New York in 1955. He joined the Miles Davis sextet in 1957, around the time that Sonny Rollins left the band. Cannonball gained national attention after appearing with Davis, John Coltrane, and other jazz giants on Kind of Blue, one of the best-selling and most highly regarded jazz albums in history.

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet featured Cannonball on alto sax and his brother Nat Adderley on cornet. Adderley's first quintet was not that successful. However, after leaving Miles Davis' group, he reformed another, again with his brother, which enjoyed quite a bit more success.The Quintet and other combos included such noted musicians as pianist Joe Zawinul (later of Weather Report), Art Blakey, and Yusef Lateef.

The nickname "Cannonball" was a corruption of "cannibal", a childhood nickname for the portly saxophonist. An articulate speaker with an easy manner, Cannonball educated, amused, and informed his audiences in clubs and on television about the art and moods of jazz (he was a music teacher before beginning his jazz career).

Songs made famous by Cannonball and his bands include 'Work Song' and 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' (written by Joe Zawinul).

On his passing in 1975, Cannonball Adderley was interred in the Southside Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida.

Discography

• Somethin' Else - with Miles Davis, Hank Jones, Sam Jones, Art Blakey
• Jazz at the Lighthouse
• Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
• Them Dirty Blues
• Know What I Mean?
• The Country Preacher
• Accent On Africa
• Soul Zodiac
• 74 Miles Away
• Inside Straight

External links

• The Cannonball Adderley Rendez-vous