Justin Adams

Justin Lloyd Adams (June 1, 1923 - July 2, 1991) was an American jazz and rhythm and blues guitarist/banjoist who performed and recorded for more than forty years.

Biography Justin Adams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents Placide Adams, Sr. and Dolly Douroux Adams lived in Ward 15, the Algiers neighborhood, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Placide Adams, Sr. was a self-employed carpenter. Dolly Adams was the jazz pianist daughter of Louis Douroux, trumpet player with the Eureka and Excelsior Brass Bands, and Olivia Douroux, who also played trumpet, piano, and violin. Olivia's brother was Manuel "Fess" Manetta (1889-1969), a multi- instrumentalist performer and teacher who taught Dolly. Dolly taught her seven children to play music, with Placide, Jr., Justin, and Gerald playing professionally.

Justin Adams said he became serious about music when he played in bands in the army during World War Two. After his discharge he joined his family's jazz group which consisted of mother Dolly on piano, and brothers Placide, Jr. on drums and Gerald on bass. Adams joined Tommy Ridgely's band in 1953 and stayed with him until 1964, when he left for Dave Bartholomew's band. He recruited Justin Adams to join the studio group. In September 1955 Adams backed Little Richard on his hit recording "Tutti Frutti", which sold 200,000 copies in the first two weeks after its release and remained on the R&B charts for 22 weeks. He played behind numerous other artists including Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Frankie Ford, Shirley and Lee, Bobby Mitchell, Huey "Piano" Smith, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Roosevelt Sykes, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Professor Longhair, The Spiders, Allen Toussaint, Art Neville, Little Sonny Jones, and Ernie K-Doe. He also performed on many of label owner Johnny Vincent's Ace Records sessions. He and trumpeter Wendell Brunious began the first Jazz Brunch at Commander's Palace restaurant in the 1970s. Adams and his family started the tradition of small strolling bands featured at jazz brunches in restaurants around New Orleans.

Justin Adams died of a heart attack