Faye Adams
Encyclopedia
Faye Adams is an American
vocalist.
singer and a key figure in the Church of God in Christ
(COGIC). At the age of five she joined her sisters to sing spirituals, regularly appearing on Newark radio shows.
nightclub
s in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While performing in Atlanta, Georgia
, she was discovered by singer Ruth Brown
, who won her an audition with bandleader Joe Morris
of Atlantic Records
. Changing her name to Faye Adams, Morris recruited her as a singer in 1952, and signed her to Herald Records
. Her first release was Morris's song "Shake a Hand
", which topped the US
Billboard
R&B
chart
for ten weeks in 1953, and made number 22 on the US pop
chart.
In 1954, Faye had two more R&B chart toppers with "I'll Be True
" (covered by Bill Haley
) and "It Hurts Me to My Heart
". During this period, she left the Morris band and was billed as "Atomic Adams". In 1955 she appeared in the film
Rhythm & Blues Revue, and in 1957 moved to Imperial Records
, but her commercial success diminished. By the late 1950s she was seen as an older recording artist whose time had come and gone, although she continued to record for various smaller labels until the early 1960s.
By 1963 she had retired from the music industry. She returned to her gospel roots and family life in New Jersey.
called Adams the "little gal with the big voice". Adams was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation
in 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist.
Early years
She was the daughter of David Tuell, a gospelGospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer and a key figure in the Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
(COGIC). At the age of five she joined her sisters to sing spirituals, regularly appearing on Newark radio shows.
Musical career
As Faye Scruggs (her married name), she became a regular performer in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While performing in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, she was discovered by singer Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown was an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, composer and actress, noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and " He Treats Your Daughter Mean".For these...
, who won her an audition with bandleader Joe Morris
Joe Morris (trumpeter)
Joe Morris was an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter and bandleader.Born in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, Morris began his career as a jazz trumpeter, working and recording with Earl Bostic, Milt Buckner, Arnett Cobb, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Griffin, Buddy Rich, Dinah Washington,...
of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Changing her name to Faye Adams, Morris recruited her as a singer in 1952, and signed her to Herald Records
Herald Records
Herald Records was an American record label of the 1950s and 1960s. Specialising in the vocal group sound, its biggest hit was "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs....
. Her first release was Morris's song "Shake a Hand
Shake a Hand
"Shake a Hand" is a 1953 single written by trumpeter and bandleader Joe Morris and originally performed by Faye Adams, whose version hit number one on the R&B chart for nine weeks.-Cover versions:*Red Foley...
", which topped the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
for ten weeks in 1953, and made number 22 on the US pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
chart.
In 1954, Faye had two more R&B chart toppers with "I'll Be True
I'll Be True
"I"ll Be True" is a 1953 song by Faye Adams. Faye Adams' second R&B chart entry resulted a second number one on the chart. "I'll Be True" stayed at number one for one week and was backed by the Joe Morris Orchestra.-References:...
" (covered by Bill Haley
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
) and "It Hurts Me to My Heart
It Hurts Me to My Heart
"It Hurts Me to My Heart" is a 1954 single by Faye Adams. The song, written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, would be the final of Adams's three number ones on the R&B Best Sellers chart in the United States.-References:...
". During this period, she left the Morris band and was billed as "Atomic Adams". In 1955 she appeared in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Rhythm & Blues Revue, and in 1957 moved to Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
, but her commercial success diminished. By the late 1950s she was seen as an older recording artist whose time had come and gone, although she continued to record for various smaller labels until the early 1960s.
By 1963 she had retired from the music industry. She returned to her gospel roots and family life in New Jersey.
Musical influence
Alan FreedAlan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
called Adams the "little gal with the big voice". Adams was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation
Rhythm and Blues Foundation
The Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of rhythm and blues music....
in 1998.
Singles
| Year | Label | A-side | B-side | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
||||
| 1953 | Atlantic 1007 | "Sweet Talk" | "Watch Out, I Told You" | - | - |
| Herald 416 | "Shake a Hand Shake a Hand "Shake a Hand" is a 1953 single written by trumpeter and bandleader Joe Morris and originally performed by Faye Adams, whose version hit number one on the R&B chart for nine weeks.-Cover versions:*Red Foley... " |
"I've Gotta Leave You" | 22 | 1 | |
| Herald 419 | "I'll Be True I'll Be True "I"ll Be True" is a 1953 song by Faye Adams. Faye Adams' second R&B chart entry resulted a second number one on the chart. "I'll Be True" stayed at number one for one week and was backed by the Joe Morris Orchestra.-References:... " |
"Happiness To My Soul" | - | 1 | |
| 1954 | Herald 423 | "Every Day" | "Say A Prayer" | - | - |
| Herald 429 | "Somebody, Somewhere, Someday" | "Crazy Mixed-Up World" | - | - | |
| Herald 434 | "Hurts Me To My Heart It Hurts Me to My Heart "It Hurts Me to My Heart" is a 1954 single by Faye Adams. The song, written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, would be the final of Adams's three number ones on the R&B Best Sellers chart in the United States.-References:... " |
"Ain't Gonna Tell" | - | 1 | |
| Herald 439 | "Ain't Nothin' To Play With" | "I Owe My Heart To You" | - | - | |
| 1955 | Herald 444 | "Anything For A Friend" | "Your Love Has My Heart Burning" | - | - |
| Herald 450 | "You Ain't Been True" | "My Greatest Desire" | - | - | |
| Herald 462 | "No Way Out" | "Same Old Me" | - | - | |
| 1956 | Herald 470 | "Teen-Age Heart" | "Witness To The Crime" | - | - |
| Herald 480 | "Takin' You Back" | "Don't Forget To Smile" | - | - | |
| Herald 489 | "Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere "Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere" is a 1950, debut single by Joe Morris and His Orchestra. Joe Morris' debut single was his most successful on three entries on the R&B chart. "Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere" featured vocals by Laurie Tate and hit number one on the R&B charts "Anytime, Any Place,... " |
"The Hammer Keeps Knockin'" | - | - | |
| 1957 | Imperial 5443 | "Keeper Of My Heart" | "So Much" | - | 13 |
| Imperial 5456 | "Johnny Lee" | "You're Crazy" | - | - | |
| Imperial 5471 | "I Have A Twinkle In My Eye" | "Someone Like You" | - | - | |
| 1958 | Imperial 5525 | "When We Kiss" | "Everything" | - | - |
| Herald 512 | "Shake a Hand" | "I'll Be True" | - | - | |