The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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“CANNONBALL” ADDERLEY

“MERCY, MERCY, MERCY“

(Joe Zawinul)    Captiol 5798

No. 11    February 25, 1967

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Julian “Cannonball” Adderley–one of the few jazz musicians to appear with regularity on the pop charts–

was born in Tampa, Florida, on September 15, 1928.  Because he had such a huge appetite, his friends

nick-named him”Cannibal,”  later corrupted to “Cannonball.”  While still in high school, the alto

sallophonist formed his first jazz combo.  After graduation, he became a band director at Dillard High for

two years, served in the military, led a few Army bands, and gigged with Oscar Pettiford.  In the late ’50s,

he began attracting  critical attention for his work with Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

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Cannonball and his brother Nat formed their own funky unit in 1956.  At various times, pianists such as

Barry Harris,  Victor Feldman, Bobby Timtnons, and Joe Zawinul  (a founding member of Weather Report)

passed through the  band.  Multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef and flutist Charles Lloyd also played with

Cannonball’s group.  Present at the “Mercy” sessions were Nat Adderley (corrinet), Joe Zawinul (piano),

Sam Jones (bass), and Louis Hayes (drums).

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Seldom does a jazzman manage to attract a large pop audience with his recordings, but Cannonball’s soulful

sounds made the “Hot 100” listings five times in all from 1961 through 1970.  His instrumentals were rooted

in jazz, but always had an engagingly bluesy backbeat.

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Cannonball Adderley died on August 8,1975,  in Gary, Indiana.  He was only 45 when he suffered a massive

stroke.