Cannonball Adderley

Cannonball Adderley was born with the name Julian Edwin Adderley. He formed his first quintet with his brother, Nat, but was not very successful. Jazz music was in the family as his father was a jazz cornetist. Adderley himself was inspired by both the bebops of Charlie Parker, and the more traditional style of Benny Carter. In 1957, Cannonball worked with Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Both are considered very prominent jazz musicians. In 1959, the Adderley siblings tried again to form a quintet, and were successful the second time around. Some of his songs include, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” “This Here,” and “Work Song.”