ADDERLEY, CANNONBALL

born Sept. 15, 1928, Tampa, Fla., U.S. died Aug. 8, 1975, Gary, Ind. Cannonball Adderley. byname of Julian Edwin Adderley African-American alto saxophonist and bandleader, one of the most popular jazz musicians of the 1950s and '60s. The son of a jazz cornetist, Adderley was a high school band director in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., studied at the U.S. Naval School of Music, and led two army bands before moving to New York City in 1955 and in 1956 forming a quintet with his brother Nat, a lyrical cornetist. He was first acclaimed as a stylistic heir to Charlie Parker, though Benny Carter's phrasing and ideas of rhythm-and-blues saxophonists also influenced his music. While with Miles Davis in 1957-59, Adderley became famous and also absorbed some of John Coltrane's exploratory harmonic ideas. The quintet Adderley formed in 1959, again featuring Nat, quickly became popular, largely owing to a hit recording, "This Here" (also called "Dis Here"). A hard-bop group, it featured "soul" and "funky" tunes such as the hits "Work Song," "Jive Samba" (both by Nat), and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"; at times a second saxophonist was added to make a sextet. Adderley's highly influential improvisational style featured restless, highly decorated, often florid lines; emphatic blues harmonies; and a full, rich tone.