Charlie Adams (drummer)
Encyclopedia
Charlie Adams is an American
drummer, percussionist, drum engineer, composer, music producer, and film producer. He formed the rock band Chameleon
in the 1980s, and was known for his revolving, upside-down drum set. He has been drum lead for Yanni
through nine major concert tours. The two have recorded 15 albums, some reaching multi-platinum
status; and their music has been used in soundtracks of various films, television, and televised sporting events. Adams is widely recognized for his drum solos and is featured in the concert films Yanni Live at the Acropolis
, Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
, Yanni Live! The Concert Event, and Yanni Voices
.
He has recorded with Dugan McNeill
and Bradley Joseph
, and has played for the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band
, as well as guest performances with various symphonies and percussion ensembles. He gives motivational talks and seminars, conducts drum clinics, and provides private lessons, a few of whom have included Jimmy Chamberlin
of the Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Mason
, drummer for Tim McGraw
. He also runs an on-line music store and owns a 24-track digital recording studio, Adams Apple Studio, in Nashville, TN. In 2004 he produced an autobiographical video about his career and family, focusing on his two sons with autism.
and began playing drums at the age of 13 after he bought a red snare drum
for fifty cents. His first drum teacher in Joliet was Don Willard, and he also studied with Bill Muehler. At Joliet West High School
, under the direction of Dean Sayles, Adams was involved with the concert and jazz bands. 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
.
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.
to pursue movie soundtrack work. Adams soon followed and while there he studied with Ed Shaughnessy of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He 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
.
In 1987, Yanni
was putting together 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. Since then, the two have recorded fourteen CDs, on which Adams has played and written percussion and drums, as well as doing the drum programming. Yanni's In My Time
and Dare to Dream
albums have gone platinum and Reflections of Passion
has reached double platinum status. Adams has completed nine major concert tours with Yanni and is widely recognized for his drum solo on the Yanni Live at the Acropolis
concert film. This recording has sold over eight million CDs, the video has gone platinum, and it has set pledge drive records when it has played on PBS
. He is also featured in the Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
released in 1995. Adams reunited with Yanni for the 2003/2004 Ethnicity
concert tour. In a 2003 concert review by Melonee McKinney of the The Tennessean
, she states, "Nashvillian Charlie Adams, who has played with Yanni for more than 20 years, stepped away from his massive drum rig at the back of the stage and came stage front to sit behind a stripped-down basic drum kit and after a few comical exchanges with Yanni, kicked into one of live music's tightest, most impressive drum solos that brought the crowd to its feet. Twice." During the 2004/2005 tour, Yanni Live! The Concert Event was recorded and later released in 2006.
In a 2004 interview with Chip Ritter, Adams was asked to point out which shows stood out in his mind in the last 25+ years. Adams replied, "Obviously the most exciting one for me was Live at the Acropolis. Playing in front of over 10,000 people every night, right below the Parthenon
in Athens, Greece
. The thing that made it so exciting was it was the first time for Yanni to be playing at home in front of his fellow Greek citizens it made you feel warm in the heart for him.
And also I was playing a drum solo in front of a majority of people who did not speak English yet responded to my drums, I really felt that the drums communicated with them, you know. Like drumming and music is in fact an international language. A great experience that will stay with me the rest of my life."
and has been a guest performer in various symphonies and percussion ensembles. He is credited for percussion on the album In The Velvet Night by Dugan McNeill
. He is also credited on the albums Hear the Masses
and Rapture
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.
(ASA) to increase autism awareness. As part of this effort he published an autobiographical video Charlie Adams, Stories and Solos: Life's Journey Through Music, Family and Autism, which contained videos and clips from Adams' and Yanni's rock-and-roll band, Chameleon, and told Adams's story of having four children—including two autistic young boys—and his family's struggles and hopes for them and for the autism community. Adams later began co-producing a full-length feature film project entitled Jason's Run, intended to portray the life of an autistic character.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer, percussionist, drum engineer, composer, music producer, and film producer. He formed the rock band Chameleon
Chameleon (American band)
Chameleon is a late 1970s/early 1980s American rock band 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...
in the 1980s, and was known for his revolving, upside-down drum set. He has been drum lead for Yanni
Yanni
Yanni , born Yiannis Hrysomallis is a Greek self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has spent most of his life in the United States.He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time...
through nine major concert tours. The two have recorded 15 albums, some reaching multi-platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status; and their music has been used in soundtracks of various films, television, and televised sporting events. Adams is widely recognized for his drum solos and is featured in the concert films Yanni Live at the Acropolis
Yanni Live at the Acropolis
Yanni Live at the Acropolis, is the name of both an album and video by contemporary instrumental musician Yanni, recorded live at the Herodes Atticus Theatre, Athens, Greece, on September 25, 1993, and released in 1994. . This album peaked at #1 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at...
, Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall is an intimate concert presentation which features the majestic Royal Albert Hall organ in performance with Yanni's very own symphony orchestra. See...
, Yanni Live! The Concert Event, and Yanni Voices
Yanni Voices
Yanni Voices, is Yanni's 14th studio album and 5th live DVD, released in 2009. The album debuted on Billboard's Top 200 and #1 on the New Age chart. The Spanish version, Yanni Voces, debuted at #2 on Billboard's New Age chart, #5 on the Latin Pop chart, and #13 on the Latin overall chart.This...
.
He has recorded with Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill, is an American musician and record producer who most notably worked with the 1980s Minnesota rock band Chameleon with members: Charlie Adams, Yanni, Mark Anthony, and Johnny Donaldson. The band recorded four albums together. Other recording credits include bass on the 1984 album...
and Bradley Joseph
Bradley Joseph
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".Active...
, and has played for the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band
United States military bands
There are many military bands in the United States military. Some are assigned to specific military bases or units. There are also bands associated with each of the service academies....
, as well as guest performances with various symphonies and percussion ensembles. He gives motivational talks and seminars, conducts drum clinics, and provides private lessons, a few of whom have included Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
of the Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Mason
Billy Mason
Billy "Thunder" Mason is an American drummer who is a member of Tim McGraw's touring band, The Dancehall Doctors. He has toured and/or recorded with numerous artists such as Tobin Sprout, Faith Hill, Bill Anderson, Paulette Carlson, among others. Mason has also trained with drummer Charlie Adams....
, drummer for Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
. He also runs an on-line music store and owns a 24-track digital recording studio, Adams Apple Studio, in Nashville, TN. In 2004 he produced an autobiographical video about his career and family, focusing on his two sons with autism.
Biography
Charlie Adams was born in Joliet, IllinoisJoliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
and began playing drums at the age of 13 after he bought a red snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
for fifty cents. His first drum teacher in Joliet was Don Willard, and he also studied with Bill Muehler. At Joliet West High School
Joliet West High School
Joliet West High School, along with Joliet Central, makes up district 204 Joliet Township High School district in Joliet, Illinois. West's mascot is the Tiger...
, under the direction of Dean Sayles, Adams was involved with the concert and jazz bands. He has studied with Bob Tilles and Phil Stanger of Chicago and played a concert series with Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...
and Stan Kenton
Stan Kenton
Stanley Newcomb "Stan" Kenton was a pianist, composer, and arranger who led a highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz orchestra. In later years he was widely active as an educator....
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
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
.
Chameleon
In Minnesota, Adams formed the rock band ChameleonChameleon (American band)
Chameleon is a late 1970s/early 1980s American rock band 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...
and developed his own record label, Platinum Records. Band members included Adams on drums, vocals, and percussion; Yanni
Yanni
Yanni , born Yiannis Hrysomallis is a Greek self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has spent most of his life in the United States.He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time...
on keyboards and synthesizers; Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill, is an American musician and record producer who most notably worked with the 1980s Minnesota rock band Chameleon with members: Charlie Adams, Yanni, Mark Anthony, and Johnny Donaldson. The band recorded four albums together. Other recording credits include bass on the 1984 album...
on lead vocals and bass guitars; Johnny Donaldson
Johnny Donaldson
Johnny Donaldson, is an American guitarist who most notably worked with the 1980s Minnesota rock band Chameleon with members: Charlie Adams, Yanni, Mark Anthony, and Dugan McNeill...
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
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The band toured extensively (sponsored by the Miller Brewing Co
Miller Brewing
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
.) performing up to 260 shows a year. Their albums included Chameleon, Techno-color, Hologram Sky, and Balance.
Yanni
It was in Minnesota that Adams met Yanni when he was hired on as Chameleon's keyboardist. They have a long history together playing in rock and roll bands in and after college. The band produced five albums before Yanni headed to Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to pursue movie soundtrack work. Adams soon followed and while there he studied with Ed Shaughnessy of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He 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
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, Wide World of Sports, U.S. Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
, Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, The Olympics, and ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
.
In 1987, Yanni
Yanni
Yanni , born Yiannis Hrysomallis is a Greek self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer who has spent most of his life in the United States.He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time...
was putting together his first touring band to promote his album Out of Silence
Out of Silence
Out of Silence is Yanni's third album, released on the Private Music label in 1987 . It was during this year that Yanni was putting together his first touring band which included Joyce Imbesi and John Tesh on keyboards, and Charlie Adams on drums.The album was reissued in 2009 by Valley...
, as well as selections from Keys to Imagination
Keys to Imagination
Keys to Imagination is Yanni's second album, released on the Private Music label in 1986 .-Track listing:#"The North Shore of Matsushima" – 5:08#"Looking Glass" – 6:35#"Nostalgia" – 4:27...
. This early band included Yanni, John Tesh
John Tesh
John Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK...
and Joyce Imbesi
Giovanna Joyce Imbesi
Giovanna Joyce Imbesi, is an American pianist/keyboardist. She embarked on her first national tour with Yanni in 1987 to promote his album, Out of Silence, and performed during the "Yanni 1988 Concert Series" and "Reflections of Passion" concert tours...
on keyboards, and Adams on drums. Since then, the two have recorded fourteen CDs, on which Adams has played and written percussion and drums, as well as doing the drum programming. Yanni's In My Time
In My Time
In My Time, Yanni's ninth album, released on the Private Music label in 1993, . This album is a gentler collection of piano-focused pieces. It attained Platinum status and was the second Grammy nomination for Yanni...
and Dare to Dream
Dare to Dream (Yanni album)
Dare to Dream is Yanni's eighth album, released on the Private Music label in 1992 . The album peaked at #2 on Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #32 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year...
albums have gone platinum and Reflections of Passion
Reflections of Passion
Reflections of Passion, is Yanni's sixth album, released on the Private Music label in 1990, , with a concert tour the same year and same title. Although it is categorized by the RIAA as a full album, all but three of the tracks on the album had been released at least once prior...
has reached double platinum status. Adams has completed nine major concert tours with Yanni and is widely recognized for his drum solo on the Yanni Live at the Acropolis
Yanni Live at the Acropolis
Yanni Live at the Acropolis, is the name of both an album and video by contemporary instrumental musician Yanni, recorded live at the Herodes Atticus Theatre, Athens, Greece, on September 25, 1993, and released in 1994. . This album peaked at #1 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at...
concert film. This recording has sold over eight million CDs, the video has gone platinum, and it has set pledge drive records when it has played on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
. He is also featured in the Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall
Yanni Live at Royal Albert Hall is an intimate concert presentation which features the majestic Royal Albert Hall organ in performance with Yanni's very own symphony orchestra. See...
released in 1995. Adams reunited with Yanni for the 2003/2004 Ethnicity
Ethnicity (Yanni album)
Ethnicity, is Yanni's 13th studio album, released in 2003, extending his "One World, One People" philosophy. It peaked at #27 on Billboard's "Top Internet Albums" chart and at #27 on the "Billboard 200" chart in 2003...
concert tour. In a 2003 concert review by Melonee McKinney of the The Tennessean
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
, she states, "Nashvillian Charlie Adams, who has played with Yanni for more than 20 years, stepped away from his massive drum rig at the back of the stage and came stage front to sit behind a stripped-down basic drum kit and after a few comical exchanges with Yanni, kicked into one of live music's tightest, most impressive drum solos that brought the crowd to its feet. Twice." During the 2004/2005 tour, Yanni Live! The Concert Event was recorded and later released in 2006.
In a 2004 interview with Chip Ritter, Adams was asked to point out which shows stood out in his mind in the last 25+ years. Adams replied, "Obviously the most exciting one for me was Live at the Acropolis. Playing in front of over 10,000 people every night, right below the Parthenon
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
in Athens, Greece
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. The thing that made it so exciting was it was the first time for Yanni to be playing at home in front of his fellow Greek citizens it made you feel warm in the heart for him.
And also I was playing a drum solo in front of a majority of people who did not speak English yet responded to my drums, I really felt that the drums communicated with them, you know. Like drumming and music is in fact an international language. A great experience that will stay with me the rest of my life."
Continued career
Adams has played with the United States Air Force Heritage of America BandUnited States military bands
There are many military bands in the United States military. Some are assigned to specific military bases or units. There are also bands associated with each of the service academies....
and has been a guest performer in various symphonies and percussion ensembles. He is credited for percussion on the album In The Velvet Night by Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill
Dugan McNeill, is an American musician and record producer who most notably worked with the 1980s Minnesota rock band Chameleon with members: Charlie Adams, Yanni, Mark Anthony, and Johnny Donaldson. The band recorded four albums together. Other recording credits include bass on the 1984 album...
. He is also credited on the albums Hear the Masses
Hear The Masses
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....
and Rapture
Rapture (Bradley Joseph album)
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...
by Bradley Joseph
Bradley Joseph
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".Active...
, 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
Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
(Smashing Pumpkins), and Billy Mason
Billy Mason
Billy "Thunder" Mason is an American drummer who is a member of Tim McGraw's touring band, The Dancehall Doctors. He has toured and/or recorded with numerous artists such as Tobin Sprout, Faith Hill, Bill Anderson, Paulette Carlson, among others. Mason has also trained with drummer Charlie Adams....
(Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
). He also runs an on-line music store and owns a 24-track digital recording studio, Adams Apple Studio, in Nashville, TN.
Autism
In 2004 Adams partnered with the Autism Society of AmericaAutism Society of America
The Autism Society of America was founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, PhD, together with Ruth C. Sullivan and a small group of other parents of autistic children. Its original name was the National Society for Autistic Children; the name was changed to emphasize that children with autism grow up...
(ASA) to increase autism awareness. As part of this effort he published an autobiographical video Charlie Adams, Stories and Solos: Life's Journey Through Music, Family and Autism, which contained videos and clips from Adams' and Yanni's rock-and-roll band, Chameleon, and told Adams's story of having four children—including two autistic young boys—and his family's struggles and hopes for them and for the autism community. Adams later began co-producing a full-length feature film project entitled Jason's Run, intended to portray the life of an autistic character.