Charlie Adams (drummer)

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For the American football player of the same name, please see Charlie Adams.


Charlie Adams

Background information
Origin Joliet, Illinois, USA
Instrument(s) Drums
Percussion
Drum engineer
Years active 1975 - present
Associated
acts		 Yanni
USAF band
Website www.charlieadams.com

Charlie Adams is an American drummer, percussionist, and drum engineer who has been drum lead for Yanni through nine major concert tours. Yanni and Adams have recorded 14 albums that have gone platinum and double platinum. He is widely recognized for his drum solo on the Yanni Live at the Acropolis video, the second best-selling music video of all time. [1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Charlie Adams is from Joliet, Illinois and began playing drums at the age of 13 after he bought a red snare drum for fifty cents. He has studied with Bob Tilles and Phil Stanger of Chicago and played a concert series with Don Ellis and Stan Kenton while attending college. He also played in the college jazz band, the symphony orchestra, and the marching band. From Chicago he headed to Minneapolis-St.Paul, studying with Marv Dahlgren, principal percussionist for the Minnesota Symphony.

[edit] Chameleon

Adams formed the rock band Chameleon and developed his own record label, Platinum Records. Band members 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. Chameleon made Billboard charts and was renowned for Adams’ revolving, upside-down drum set, which he played in live concerts and on MTV. The band toured extensively (sponsored by the Miller Brewing Co.) performing up to 260 shows a year. Their albums included Chameleon, Techno-color, Hologram Sky, and Balance.

[edit] Yanni

Adams then moved to Los Angeles where he joined his colleague and former Chameleonite, Yanni, and while there he studied with Ed Shaughnessy of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Adams and Yanni have been playing and touring together for 25 years; in this time they have recorded 14 albums, with Adams writing percussion and drums and doing the drum programing. Adams has completed nine major concert tours with Yanni. Adams is featured in the concert video Yanni Live, The Concert Event, released in 2006. He has also collaborated with Yanni as movie consultant, writing the drum and percussion parts and doing all the research with his movie library, which consists of over 4,000 titles. He has been assistant engineer and drummer on the soundtracks of various motion pictures. Their music has been used extensively in television and televised sporting events, including the Super Bowl, Wide World of Sports, U.S. Open, Tour De France, World Figure Skating Championships, The Olympics, and ABC News.

[edit] Continued career

Adams has played with the USAF band and has been a guest performer in various symphonies and percussion ensembles. He is also credited on two recordings by Bradley Joseph, a long-time bandmate and keyboardist for Yanni. Adams tours giving motivational talks and seminars in schools and retail stores, as well as conducting drum clinics and private lessons. Two of his more well-known students are Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins), and Billy Mason (Tim McGraw). He also runs an on-line music store and owns a 24-track digital recording studio, Adams Apple Studio, in Nashville, TN.

[edit] Videography

“Stories and Solos…Life’s Journey Through Music, Family and Autism” [1], [2], [3]

  • Partnering with the Autism Society of America to increase awareness and education, this DVD compiles the story of Charlie Adams from childhood to the present with never-before-seen videos and clips including some from Adams' and Yanni's rock-and-roll band, Chameleon. Adams shares his personal story of having four children -- including two autistic young boys -- and his family's struggles and hopes for them and for the autism community. "My family’s first hand experience with autism, enables Andrea and I to provide the ASA community with a parent perspective on autism needs. We are thrilled to work with the ASA and look forward to helping others as a result of this partnership", says Adams. [2]

[edit] References

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ Merrill Lynch August 8, 2006. News story stating, "The Live at the Acropolis DVD/video is the second best-selling music video of all time", (source: Wolfson Public Relations)
  2. ^ Quote: Official bio

[edit] External links


He has a dog named max

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