From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sat Jan 5, 2002  2:28 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Johnny Adams
 
JOHNNY ADAMS

Born Lathan John Adams, 5 January 1932, New Orleans, Louisiana
Died 14 September 1998, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

R&B/blues singer. Sang gospel professionally before crossing over to the
secular world in 1959. Songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie (yes, the woman
who cleaned up the "Tutti Frutti" lyrics) convinced her neighbour Adams
to sing her ballad "I Won't Cry". The track, produced by a very young Mac
Rebennack, was released on Joe Ruffino's Ric logo, and Adams was on
his way. In the late 60s he recorded for Shelby Singleton's SSS Inter-
national label, scoring his biggest hit with "Reconsider Me" in 1969
(# 8 R&B, # 28 pop). Further releases appeared on mainly regional
labels throughout the 1970s and in the mid-80's he joined Rounder
Records, the Massachusetts-based label for whom he recorded a total
of nine albums. "He had a voice like an angel", said Cosimo Matassa.
"The two greatest New Orleans singers are he and Aaron Neville, and
they should stand shouder-to-shoulder."
Johnny Adams died of cancer of the age of 66.

Further reading: "Johnny Adams : The Tan Canary" in: Jeff Hannusch,
I Hear You Knockin' : The Sound of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues
(1985), p. 267-280.
Recommended listening: CD "Reconsider Me" (Collectables, 18 tracks).