Jazz legend lectures students

Stephanie White, Staff Writer
Published On: 11/30/2009

The African American Studies Department hosted jazz legend Dr. Frank Adams Sr. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Adams presented a lecture where he showcased the silver lining in segregated education.

Adams, executive director of Alabama’s Jazz Hall of Fame, was also a charter inductee member to the Hall of Fame in 1978, along with musicians Sammy Lowe and Haywood Henry.

“I was the youngest one in [the inductee] group and it was a great honor to be a charter member with them. That was one of the greatest honors I ever had,” said Adams. “Now all of [the other inductees] hopefully are playing in that great band in the sky and I’m the only one left. So sometimes [when] I have a strange ache of pain, I think they’re calling for me and I’m not ready to go yet.”

Adams is a teacher, supervisor and grand mastering musician of jazz and credits much of who he is today to his participation in the Duke Ellington Orchestra and to his mentor, John T. Whatley.

Adams started learning to play the clarinet from his older brother Oscar Adams Jr., who was Alabama’s first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court. Adams said he was in Oscar’s room one day and picked up his clarinet and blew as hard as he could.

The sound wasn’t perfect, but it was his first step towards becoming the talented artist he is today. He said the first note he ever played was a G, and every time he hears that note, he goes back to that day in his brother’s room.
His career started off with a lot of time, dedication and support from his family. Adams was able to work with some of the most noted jazz professionals of the century throughout his career.

Adams came to UAB’s campus to share stories about his journeys and the history he lived through. He touched on the subject of segregation, something he experienced firsthand. Although his view might be seen as less mainstream, he was able to find some good in something established with ill intent.

“We didn’t have any type of organized curriculum, [so] if you took music you had more time to learn it,” he said. “That’s why those groups [at black schools] could have such far superior bands and choirs, because they spent more time on it. It was taught like it was a life. It was something you had to do as a profession.”

Adams is man that takes on a challenge with a smile and has applied that same philosophy to his view of segregation. He wasn’t going to be overcome by injustices but took the situation as a challenge to be the best he could with what he was offered.

This powerful message, to make the most out of any situation and find the path of perseverance and success — was easy to relate to for anyone who has ever struggled to get to where they are today.

Adams is a great musician and motivational teacher who has traveled around the world several times. In all his travels, he learned a lot about people.

“People all have one thing in common, we are all more alike than we’re different,” he said.

Adams is a man with a watch on each wrist and blue pinstriped suit with tie to match. But with his overall class and charisma, he could wear a burlap sack and still exude such charm, being the treasure that he is. His message and music are strong.

For more information on Adams, the Alabama Hall of Fame inductees and tours, visit http://www.jazzhall.com.

Email: sgwhite@uab.edu