Charlie Adams | |
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 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 8, 1954 Joliet, Illinois, United States |
| Instrument(s) | Drums Percussion Drum engineer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Formerly of | Chameleon |
Charlie Adams (born May 8, 1954) is an American drummer, best known for playing in Yanni's touring band, after having played with Yanni in the early 1980s rock band Chameleon. Adams was born in Joliet, Illinois. [1]
Band members of regional rock band Chameleon [2] included Adams on drums, vocals, and percussion; Yanni on keyboards and synthesizers; Dugan McNeill on lead vocals and bass guitars; Johnny Donaldson on all guitars; and Mark Anthony on lead vocals and keyboards. [3] Their albums included Chameleon, Techno-color, Hologram Sky, and Balance. [3] The group was noted for Adams' revolving gyroscope drum kit, who played his rapidly spinning drums before Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee's similar arrangement. [2]
In 1987, Yanni formed his first touring band to promote his album Out of Silence , as well as selections from Keys to Imagination . This early band included Yanni, John Tesh and Joyce Imbesi on keyboards, and Adams on drums. [4] He is also featured in both Live at the Acropolis released in 1994 and Live at Royal Albert Hall released in 1995. [5]
Adams did not join the Tribute concert at the Taj Mahal and Forbidden City as he had to help raise his son with autism issues and thus was replaced by rock/jazz drummer Joel Taylor for the entire tour. After Yanni's hiatus following Tribute, Adams returned in 2001.
Adams reunited again with Yanni for the 2003/2004 Ethnicity concert tour. [6]
Adams is credited [7] as drummer or percussionist in the following albums, produced by Yanni unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Tour / Album [7] | Billboard New Age (peak) [8] [9] | Billboard 200 (peak) [8] [9] | Notes [7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Out of Silence | |||
| 1988 | Chameleon Days | |||
| 1988 | A Thousand Summers | John Tesh | ||
| 1989 | Niki Nana | 2 | ||
| 1992 | Yanni Gift Set (Reflections of Passion/In Celebration of Life) | |||
| 1992 | Romantic Moments | |||
| 1992 | Dare to Dream | 2 | 32 | Grammy-nominated (New Age) [10] |
| 1994 | Live at the Acropolis | 1 | 5 | Sept. 1993 concerts at the Acropolis of Athens; second best selling music video of all time [11] |
| 1999 | Love Songs | |||
| 2006 | Yanni Live! The Concert Event | 1 | 84 | 2004 concert; No. 4 selling New Age album of both 2006 and 2007 [12] Peaked at No. 6 Billboard Top Independent Album (2006) [8] |
| 2010 | Love Songs/Reflections of Passion | |||
Adams has indicated his musical influences to include Buddy Rich, the Beatles, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. [13]
Cracker is an American rock band, formed in 1990 by lead singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. The band's first album Cracker was released in 1992 on Virgin Records; it included the single "Teen Angst ", which went to #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. The band's follow-up, the 1993 album Kerosene Hat included the hit songs "Low", "Get Off This", and "Euro-Trash Girl".
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in Guildford, Surrey, in 1971. Led by guitarist Andrew Latimer, they have released fourteen studio albums and fourteen singles, plus numerous live albums and DVDs. Without achieving mass popularity, the band gained a cult following in the 1970s with albums such as Mirage (1974) and The Snow Goose (1975). They moved into a jazzier, more commercial direction in the early 1980s, but then went on an extended hiatus. Since 1991 the band has been independent, releasing albums on their own label.
James Joseph Chamberlin is an American drummer and record producer. Described as "one of the most powerful drummers in rock," he is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in the supergroup Zwan and also formed his own group, the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. In late 2005, Chamberlin joined Corgan in reforming Smashing Pumpkins; he eventually left the group in March 2009, though he returned again in 2015 for a summer tour, and officially performed with the band since then. Following the guitarist Jeff Schroeder's departure in October 2023, Chamberlin is the second-longest serving member of the Smashing Pumpkins after the frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan.
Charles Robert Watts was an English drummer who was a member of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021.
Yiannis Chryssomallis, known professionally as Yanni, is a Greek composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer.
NRBQ is an American rock band founded by Terry Adams (piano), Steve Ferguson (guitar) and Joey Spampinato (bass). Originally the "New Rhythm and Blues Quintet", the group was formed circa 1965. Adams disbanded it for a time, and the group re-formed in 1967. The quartet is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Its membership comprises the quartet of pianist Adams, bassist Casey McDonough, guitarist Scott Ligon, and drummer John Perrin. Some of the members in the band's long history are singer, writer and bassist Joey Spampinato, guitarists Al Anderson and Johnny Spampinato; drummers Tom Staley and Tom Ardolino; and vocalist Frank Gadler.
Bloodrock was an American hard rock band based in Fort Worth, Texas, that had success in the 1970s. The band emerged from the Fort Worth club and music scene during the early to mid-1970s.
Bradley Joseph is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".
Hear the Masses is the debut album by Bradley Joseph,, a self-produced and self-published release consisting of 10 original instrumental compositions ranging from upbeat piano to orchestral ballads.
Rapture is the second album by Bradley Joseph, and his debut album on the Narada label, released in March 1997. This is an instrumental album in which Joseph wrote and conducted all of the scores. In addition to incorporating a core band including violinist Charlie Bisharat and drummer Charlie Adams, he used a 50-piece orchestra. It is an "expression of a life's work and dreams", featuring intimate piano pieces, quartets and full orchestrations, "combining smooth jazz with contemporary instrumental themes". It reached New Age Voice (NAV)'s "Airwaves Top 30" at No. 15 in July 1997.
Live at the Acropolis is the first live album and concert film by the Greek keyboardist, composer, and producer Yanni, released on March 1, 1994, on Private Music. It was recorded at the Herodes Atticus Theatre in Athens, Greece during his 1993 tour in support of his eighth studio album, In My Time (1993). The concert took a year and a half to organise and cost Yanni $2 million of his own money to fund. He performs with his six-piece band and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Shahrdad Rohani. The album was mixed and produced by Yanni in his studio, and was made into a television special which aired in the United States on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
In My Time is the ninth studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1993. This album is a gentler collection of piano-focused pieces. The album attained Platinum status and was the second Grammy nomination for Yanni. It peaked at #1 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #24 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year.
Out of Silence is the third studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released by Private Music in 1987. Its corresponding concert tour was the 1987 Concert Series.
Chameleon Days is the fourth studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1988. It peaked at #2 on Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart in the same year.
Niki Nana is the fifth studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released in August 1989 by Private Music.
Dare to Dream is the eighth studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released in March 1992 on Private Music. The album peaked at number 2 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums chart and at number 32 on the Billboard 200 chart in the same year. It went gold within two months of its release and was nominated for a Grammy.
Chameleon was an American rock band active from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. It was founded by Charlie Adams. Chameleon made Billboard charts and was renowned for Adams’ two-axis revolving, upside-down drum set, which he played in live concerts and on MTV. The band toured extensively, performing up to 260 shows a year. Band members have included Adams, drums, vocals, and percussion; Yanni, keyboards and synthesizers; Dugan McNeill, lead vocals and bass guitars; Johnny Donaldson, all guitars; Mark Anthony, lead vocals and keyboards; Peter Diggins, lead vocals and main guitars; Donny Paulson, guitars, vocals.
Daniel de los Reyes is an American percussionist who is a former member of Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago. He is currently a member of the Zac Brown Band.
The A-Sides were an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They formed in 2002 and consisted of Jon Barthmus (guitars/vocals), Charlie Cottone (guitars/vocals), Christopher Doyle (keyboards/guitar/percussion), Mike "Flem" Fleming, and Patrick "Party Todd" Marsceill (drums/vocals). Jonathon Fitzgerald was once considered as a replacement for "Flem".
The discography of the Greek contemporary instrumental musician Yanni includes 19 studio albums and eight live albums. In 1987 he put together a small band which included John Tesh and Charlie Adams, and began touring to promote his earliest instrumental albums, Keys to Imagination, Out of Silence, and Chameleon Days.
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