Faye Adams

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Faye Adams

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Faye Tuell
Alias = Faye Scruggs
"Atomic Adams"
Born = Newark, New Jersey
United States
Died =
Origin = New York, New York
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Gospel
Blues
Occupation =
Years_active = 1953 - 1954
Label = Herald Records
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Faye Adams (born Faye Tuell, circa 1923/1925, Newark, New Jersey) is an American vocalist.

Biography

Early years

She was the daughter of David Tuell, a gospel singer and a key figure in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). At the age of five she joined her sisters to sing spirituals, regularly appearing on Newark radio shows.

Musical career

As Faye Scruggs (her married name), she became a regular performer in New York City nightclubs in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While performing in Atlanta, she was discovered by singer Ruth Brown, who won her an audition with bandleader Joe Morris of Atlantic Records. Changing her name to Faye Adams, Morris recruited her as a singer in 1952, and signed her to Herald Records. Her first release was Morris' song "Shake A Hand", which topped the R&B charts for ten weeks in 1953 and also made # 22 on the pop charts. The song was later covered by many others including Little Richard, LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, and Jackie Wilson.

In 1954, Faye had two more R&B chart toppers with "I'll Be True" (covered by Bill Haley) and "Hurts Me To My Heart". During this period, she left the Morris band and was billed as "Atomic Adams", a tribute to her showmanship on stage. In 1955 she appeared in the movie "Rhythm & Blues Revue", and in 1957 moved to Imperial Records, but her commercial success diminished. By the late 1950s she was seen as an older recording artist whose time had come and gone, although she continued to record for various smaller labels until the early 1960s.

By 1963 she had retired from the popular music scene. She returned to her gospel roots and family life in New Jersey, and was reportedly unwilling to discuss her classic secular R&B recordings.

Musical influence

Alan Freed called Adams the "little gal with the big voice". Adams was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1998.

Discography

*July, 1953 -Shake A Hand - Herald
*November, 1953 - I'll Be True - Herald
*August, 1954 - Hurts Me To My Heart - Herald

External links

*Marion JC (2000). [http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/fayea.html The big voice of Faye Adams]
* [http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/faye_adams.htmFaye Adams biography] via rockabilly.nl