Cannonball Adderley

Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975) was a jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Adderley is remembered for his 1966 single "Mercy Mercy Mercy", a crossover hit on the pop charts, and for his work with trumpeter Miles Davis, including on the epochal album Kind of Blue (1959). He was the brother of jazz cornetist Nat Adderley, a longtime member of his band. He continued to perform until his untimely death on August, 8, 1975 from a stroke. He was 46 year old, yet had amassed a recording resume of over 50 albums as a group leader, with an equal amount in collaborative works in just 20 years as a performing artist.