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'''Frank Adams''' is a jazz clarinetist / saxophonist residing in [[Birmingham]], Alabama.  
'''Frank "Doc" Adams''' (born February [[1928]] in [[Birmingham]]) is a jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader. He taught for 47 years in [[Birmingham City Schools]] and was a charter member and the second executive director of the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]].


== Biography ==
Adams was introduced to music early. His father, [[Oscar Adams, Sr]] was a trombonist for [[W. C. Handy]]'s [[Alabama A&M University]] orchestra and his older brother [[Oscar Adams, Jr]] played clarinet. He continued to learn under [[William Handy]], W. C.'s nephew at [[Lincoln Elementary School]] and under [[Fess Whatley]] at [[Industrial High School]].
Frank Adams learned to play the clarinet from his older brother, Oscar Adams, Jr., Alabama's first Black Supreme Court Justice. Their father, Oscar Adams, Sr., played trombone with W. C. Handy, the Father of the Blues, at Alabama A&M in Huntsville. Adams studied music under Birmingham's Maker of Musicians, [[Fess Whatley|John T. "Fess" Whatley]] and played in Whatley's band for two years.


Then came the giants of jazz: Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Tiny Bradshaw and [[Sun Ra]]. On the Birmingham jazz scene, Adams formed his own band that featured his wife Dot as vocalist. He joined the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]] in [[1976]].
As a high schooler, Adams was reluctantly recruited into Whatley's big band to take the place of [[Amos Gordon]] on saxophone, and traveled to performance dates around the South. He later joined a second big band put together by his former schoolmate, [[Sun Ra|Sonny Blount]] (later known as "Sun Ra"). He enrolled at Howard University in Washington D. C. in [[1945]] and founded the Howard Swingmasters big band. From there he began playing for some of the giants of jazz, including Tiny Bradshaw, Lucky Millinder and Duke Ellington.


A respected clarinet and saxophone soloist, Adams credits his first band instructor, William Wise Handy for developing his love for music. He succeeded Handy at Lincoln Elementary School. Adams is the Program Specialist for Music Instruction for the [[Birmingham City Schools]]. In [[1978]], Frank Adams was a Charter Member of the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]], where he is currently Director of Education Emeritus.
Back in [[Birmingham]], Adams formed his own band that featured his wife [[Dot Adams|Dot]] as vocalist. He served as an instructor and program specialist for music instruction for the [[Birmingham City Schools]]. He joined the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]] in [[1976]]. In [[1978]], Frank Adams was inducted into the inaugural class of the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]], which he later headed as executive director. He currently serves as Director of Education Emeritus.


Adams is also a member of several active performing groups, including the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]] and the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars]].
Adams continues to perform as a member of several groups, including the [[Birmingham Heritage Band]] and the [[Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars]].


[[Category:Living people|Adams, Frank]]
==References==
[[Category:Jazz musicians|Adams, Frank]]
* Mathews, Burgin (January 15, 2010) "[http://www.pavomag.com/story/birmingham-jazzman-“doc”-frank-adams Birmingham Jazzman: “Doc” Frank Adams]". Pavo magazine.
[[Category:Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame|Adams, Frank]]
 
[[Category:Clarinetists|Adams, Frank]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Frank}}
[[Category:Saxophonists|Adams, Frank]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Clarinetists]]
[[Category:Saxophonists]]
[[Category:Birmingham faculty]]
[[Category:Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame]]

Revision as of 14:49, 2 February 2010

Frank "Doc" Adams (born February 1928 in Birmingham) is a jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader. He taught for 47 years in Birmingham City Schools and was a charter member and the second executive director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Adams was introduced to music early. His father, Oscar Adams, Sr was a trombonist for W. C. Handy's Alabama A&M University orchestra and his older brother Oscar Adams, Jr played clarinet. He continued to learn under William Handy, W. C.'s nephew at Lincoln Elementary School and under Fess Whatley at Industrial High School.

As a high schooler, Adams was reluctantly recruited into Whatley's big band to take the place of Amos Gordon on saxophone, and traveled to performance dates around the South. He later joined a second big band put together by his former schoolmate, Sonny Blount (later known as "Sun Ra"). He enrolled at Howard University in Washington D. C. in 1945 and founded the Howard Swingmasters big band. From there he began playing for some of the giants of jazz, including Tiny Bradshaw, Lucky Millinder and Duke Ellington.

Back in Birmingham, Adams formed his own band that featured his wife Dot as vocalist. He served as an instructor and program specialist for music instruction for the Birmingham City Schools. He joined the Birmingham Heritage Band in 1976. In 1978, Frank Adams was inducted into the inaugural class of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, which he later headed as executive director. He currently serves as Director of Education Emeritus.

Adams continues to perform as a member of several groups, including the Birmingham Heritage Band and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars.

References

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