Born Arthur Adams on February 12, 1935, in Carrollton, Kentucky, Art Adams is recognized as one of the rockabilly artists who recorded a few obscure tracks in the 1950s before stepping away from the music scene, only to return to performing decades later after catching the attention of music enthusiasts, particularly in Europe.

Growing up in a musical family, Adams relocated to a farm near Bean Blossom, Indiana, at the age of twelve. His education was abruptly interrupted by his parents' divorce, and he left school without completing high school. By age 15, he was living in Indianapolis, where he worked at a shopping bag company, where he also met his future wife, Tommie Arlene Melton. They celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on February 3, 2009, a noteworthy milestone considering he married at just 15 years old.

Adams learned to play guitar from his brother-in-law, Dave Logsdon. In late 1954, he formed a country band called the Kentucky Drifters with Logsdon (bass) and Ray Paley (steel guitar). The band recorded a demo at a local Indianapolis radio station, featuring Adams' original songs "Down In Tennessee" and "She's From Tennessee." They made a 700-mile journey to Sun Studio in Memphis, only to find that Sam Phillips was unavailable. Jack Clement listened to their tapes and noted that while Adams had a sound reminiscent of Johnny Cash, he needed to develop his own style. Clement advised that Sun Studio was preoccupied with other artists at the time.

Adams grew restless with the Kentucky Drifters due to creative differences, as he wished to explore rockabilly while Logsdon favored country music. In 1957, the band was renamed the Rhythm Kings and underwent a lineup change, adding twin guitarists Roy Robinette and Edwin Weil, while drummer Norm Wagner was replaced by Bennie Abott, also known as Kentucky Curly. The band secured a residency at the Playmore Club in Indianapolis, which was sometimes spelled Pla-Mor by Ian Wallis in Now Dig This. In July 1959, Art Adams and the Rhythm Kings signed a three-year contract with the Cherry label, owned by Joe Dyson, based in Scottsville, Kentucky. Their first recording session took place in Nashville, resulting in the single "Rock Crazy Baby" paired with "Indian Joe," both embodying fiery, primitive rockabilly. A second single, "Dancing Doll"/"She Don't Live Here No More," was recorded in May 1960, showcasing exciting guitar work. However, by 1960, the commercial viability of such rockabilly was dwindling, and the band members' day jobs limited promotional opportunities. Cherry Records did not fulfill their contractual obligation to release at least two records per year for three years, despite having finished material, including Adams' "Honey Girl" and an energetic instrumental version of "Orange Blossom Special."

In 1961, Adams formed a new band called the Epics, with Billy Stewart on lead guitar, who would become a significant collaborator in Adams' musical journey. This new formation aimed to update his sound with an R&B influence and attract gigs in more upscale venues. The Epics gained popularity as a backing band for renowned artists visiting Indianapolis, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Dee Dee Sharp, Conway Twitty, and Gene Simmons. Adams remained active in music until around 1968, when he began focusing on a vending machine business and raising three children, believing he had left the music industry for good.

During the 1980s, Adams received numerous inquiries from collectors interested in his old records, with counterfeit versions of his Cherry recordings circulating. However, it wasn't until 2003 that his second wave of rockabilly career began when Cees Klop released his first CD, "Rock Crazy Baby," on Collector 4477. The album included the four Cherry sides, along with alternate takes and demos, although not all were considered worthy of release, as noted by Ian Wallis. Several tracks were described as amateurish or disjointed. Since then, two additional CDs have been released: "Rockin' My Way Around" in 2005 and "Dancing Doll" in 2006, both featuring newly recorded, raw performances.

Adams' comeback performance took place at Viva Las Vegas in April 2003, followed by shows in Montreal, Canada, and Hemsby, England, later that year. He has since returned to the UK multiple times and performed in various European countries, including Sweden, France, and Spain. Today, Adams is supported by a band comprising Danny Thompson on lead guitar, Mark Cutsinger on drums, and Mike Strauss on bass, continuing to entertain a loyal and enthusiastic audience.

For more information, please visit: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ArtAdams.html

Acknowledgements: Ian Wallis, "Rock Crazy Baby: The Art Adams Story," Now Dig This, issue 300 (March 2008), pages 9-11.