Johnny Adams Similar Artists

Bobby Charles - 58% match to Johnny Adams

Robert Charles Guidry, 21 February 1938, Abbeville, Louisiana, USA. Charles became well known in the 50s when three of his songs - ‘See You Later Alligator’, ‘Walking To New Orleans’ and ‘But I Do’ - were successfully covered by Bill Haley, Fats Domino and Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry. The composer also recorded in his own right for Chicag Read more

Earl King - 43% match to Johnny Adams

Earl Silas Johnson IV, 7 February 1934, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 17 April 2003, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The son of a blues pianist, King became an accomplished guitarist and singer with local bands before making his first recordings in 1953 for Savoy Records (‘Have You Gone Crazy’, credited to Earl Johnson) and Specialty Records (‘A Mother’s L Read more

Joe Tex - 32% match to Johnny Adams

Joseph Arrington Jnr., 8 August 1933, Rogers, Texas, USA, d. 13 August 1982, Navasota, Texas, USA. The professional career of this popular singer began onstage at the Apollo. He won first place in a 1954 talent contest and duly secured a record deal. Releases on King Records, Ace Records and the Anna labels were derivative and disappointing, but Tex meanwhile honed his songw Read more

Lead Belly - 29% match to Johnny Adams

Lee Dorsey - 29% match to Johnny Adams

Irving Lee Dorsey, 24 December 1926, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 1 December 1986, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. An ex-boxer (nicknamed ‘Kid Chocolate’) turned singer, Dorsey first recorded for Joe Banashak’s Instant label. One song, ‘Lottie Mo’, became a regional hit and led to a contract with Fury. The infectious ‘Ya Ya’ (1961) was a nu Read more

Professor Longhair - 29% match to Johnny Adams

Henry Roeland Byrd, 19 December 1918, Bogalusa, Louisiana, USA, d. 30 January 1980, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Byrd grew up in New Orleans where he was part of a novelty dance team in the 30s. He also played piano, accompanying John Lee ‘Sonny Boy’ Williamson. After wartime service, Byrd gained a residency at the Caldonia club, whose owner christened him Professo Read more

Esther Phillips - 28% match to Johnny Adams

Esther Mae Jones, 23 December 1935, Galveston, Texas, USA, d. 7 August 1984, Carson, California, USA. This distinctive vocalist was discovered by band leader Johnny Otis. She joined his revue in 1949 where, performing as Little Esther, the teenage singer recorded two number 1 R&B singles, ‘Double Crossing Blues’ and ‘Mistrustin’ Blues’. She then Read more

Little Esther - 28% match to Johnny Adams

Allen Toussaint - 26% match to Johnny Adams

14 January 1938, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This influential artist first came to prominence in the mid-50s as the touring piano player with Shirley And Lee. The duo’s producer, Dave Bartholomew, began using Toussaint on several recording sessions, including those of Smiley Lewis and, on a handful of occasions, Fats Domino. The artist’s solo debut came in 1958 wi Read more

Clarence "Frogman" Henry - 24% match to Johnny Adams

19 March 1937, Algiers, Louisiana, USA. Henry began performing during the 50s with a New Orleans-based R&B group led by Bobby Mitchell. The singer later began work with band leader Paul Gayten who accompanied him on his 1957 smash ‘Ain’t Got No Home’. However, it was not until 1961 that ‘But I Do’ provided a follow-up to this novelty song, earnin Read more

Aaron Neville - 23% match to Johnny Adams

24 January 1941, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Neville began performing in the Hawkettes, a group that also featured his brother Art Neville. Aaron was signed to Minit Records as a solo artist, but despite a minor hit with ‘Over You’ (1960), he remained largely unknown until the release of ‘Tell It Like It Is’ (1966). This simple, haunting ballad showcased Read more

Chris Kenner - 23% match to Johnny Adams

25 December 1929, Kenner, Louisiana, USA, d. 25 January 1976, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This New Orleans-based artist had a US Top 20 R&B hit in 1957 on the Imperial Records label with his own composition, ‘Sick And Tired’, a song later revived by Fats Domino. Kenner was one of the first signings to the Instant label, on which he recorded his three best-know Read more

Dr. John - 22% match to Johnny Adams

Joe Simon - 22% match to Johnny Adams

2 September 1943, Simmesport, Louisiana, USA. Simon’s professional career began following his move to Oakland, California, where a 1962 release, ‘My Adorable One’, was a minor hit. In 1964, Joe met John Richbourg, a Nashville-based disc jockey who began guiding the singer’s musical path, initially on the Sound Stage 7 label. ‘Let’s Do It Over
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Johnnie Taylor - 22% match to Johnny Adams

5 May 1938, Crawfordsville, Arkansas, USA, d. 31 May 2000, Dallas, Texas, USA. Having left home at the age of 15, Taylor surfaced as part of several gospel groups, including the Five Echoes and the Highway QCs. In 1956 he joined the Soul Stirrers, replacing Sam Cooke on the latter’s recommendation. Taylor switched to secular music in 1961; releases on Cooke’s Sar a Read more