Adam Wade: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Paul Petersen
• Frankie Avalon
• Mark Dinning
• Tony Perkins
• Tommy Edwards
• Vic Dana
• Jerry Wallace

• Jesse Belvin

• Shudder to Think

Born:

Mar 17, 1937 in Pittsburgh, PA

Genres:

Rock Music, Standards & Vocal Music, Traditional Pop Vocal Music

Decades Active:

1960's

Artistic Quality

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Singer/actor/drummer Adam Wade grew up in Pittsburgh PA. He worked as a lab assistant for the fame Dr. Jonas Salk who invented the vaccine for polio. A natural singer, Wade was influenced by Jessie Belvin, Johnny Mathis (who bounce out a few years before Wade), and Nat King Cole. He moved to New York in 1960 and tasted success instantly. He signed with CoEd Records and sang at the city's most prestigious club, the Copacabana within six months of setting foot in the Big Apple. Wade scored a modicum of success in 1960 with “Ruby" and “I Can't Help It." And better than in 1961 with three Top 10 singles: “Take Good Care of Her," “The Writing on the Wall" and “As If I Didn't Know." Comparisons to Johnny Mathis hurt more than help Wade, however, the two were vocally similar, and like Mathis, Wade was eye candy to the ladies.

After two albums in 1960-61 he left CoEd to replace Johnny Mathis (who else) at Epic Records who was leaving the conglomerate. The moved all but killed his recording career. He only charted once at Epic with “Crying in the Chapel," which reached number 88—hardly a blockbuster. His three Epic albums' from 1962 to 1963 didn't move any mountains either. Subsequent efforts hit with the impact of a gnat and by 1969 Wade dropped kick recording for acting. He found work doing voice overs, including Sweet Lou Dunbar and Gismo Man on the Harlem Globetrotters Show. And started acting roles in Wanderlove ('70) and Shaft ('71). Followed by roles as Benjy in Comeback Charleston Blues ('72), Gordon's War ('73) playing Hustler, and Crazy Joe in Phantom of the Paradise and Claudine, both released in 1974. In 1976 became the first African-American to host a national television talk show—Musical Chairs. Rejuvenated again, Wade resurrected his recording career somewhat on Kirshner Records in 1978; this time he went for a funkier sound, the Mathis imitation was history. After all there can only be one. On Kirshner he recorded “Alexander's Soul Time Band," and others. In 1978 he played in an all Black cast of Guys and Dolls in Las Vegas for six months. He returned to acting in 1982 via Kiss Me Goodbye where he played Roscoe but has worked quietly behind the scene ever since.

- Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide