Nat Adderley Jr.
| Nat Adderley Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nathaniel Adderley, Jr |
| Born |
May 23, 1955 Quincy, Florida, United States |
| Origin | West Orange, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | soul, R&B, pop |
| Occupation(s) | arranger, composer, songwriter |
| Instruments | piano, electric piano, vocal |
| Years active | 1966 - present |
| Associated acts |
Luther Vandross Julian "Cannonball" Adderley |
Nat Adderley Jr. (born May 23, 1955) is an American pop and rhythm and blues music arranger and pianist who spent much of his music career arranging as music director for Luther Vandross tours and contributed as co-songwriter on most of Vandross's albums. His father Nat Adderley (1931–2000) was a composer and jazz cornet and trumpet player, while his uncle Cannonball Adderley (1928–1975) was a jazz alto saxophonist.
Biography
Nat Adderley Jr. was born in Quincy, Florida on May 23, 1955. The scion of a famed jazz family, he grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, moving to that suburban New York City community with his family when he was five years old. He started playing piano as a child and had his first song, "I'm on My Way", recorded by his uncle Cannonball on the 1967 album Why Am I Treated So Bad! by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet when the young Nat Adderley was only 11 years old.[1][2] While at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, Adderley first met Luther Vandross, who attended Taft High School in the Bronx. It is with Vandross, who Adderley would later spend much of his musical career. He attended Yale University, graduating with a degree in African American studies.[1]
While living in Houston, Texas, he was the music arranger for the 1981 album Never Too Much which became Vandross's first hit with the title track, which reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fourth on the dance charts. He continued working with Vandross, whom he called "a hilarious guy, a great employer, a great friend, and an incredible musician", until the singer's stroke in February 2003 that effectively ended his career.[1]
Adderley has returned to his jazz roots, performing his own works, as well as tributes to both his father and uncle. He cites his influences as Chick Corea, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. In a 2009 interview with the Star-Ledger he said pianists "who are killing me" include Kenny Barron, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton and Joe Zawinul.[1]
As of 2009, Nat Adderley, Jr, is a resident of West Orange, New Jersey.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Stewart, Zan. "Born to swing: Nat Adderley Jr. returns to his roots", The Star-Ledger, September 10, 2009. Accessed September 10, 2009.
- ↑ Kosicki, Edward C. "A Look At The Records", The Hartford Courant, January 7, 1968. Accessed September 10, 2009. "...he's now pushing a tune written by an 11-year-nephew, Nat Adderley Jr., I'm On My Way."