Charlie Adams (born May 8, 1954) is an American drummer, best known for playing in Yanni's touring band, after having played with Yanni in the early 1980s rock band Chameleon. Adams was born in Joliet, Illinois.
Music career
Early life Adams was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois. Prior to joining Chameleon, he taught drums to local students, including future Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.
Chameleon Band members of regional rock band Chameleon 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. Their albums included Chameleon, Techno-color, Hologram Sky, and Balance. The group was noted for Adams' revolving gyroscope drum kit, who played his rapidly spinning drums before Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee's similar arrangement.
Yanni In 1987, Yanni formed 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. He is also featured in both Live at the Acropolis released in 1994 and Live at Royal Albert Hall released in 1995.
Adams did not join the Tribute concert at the Taj Mahal and Forbidden City as he had to help raise his son with autism issues and thus was replaced by rock/jazz drummer Joel Taylor for the entire tour. After Yanni's hiatus following Tribute, Adams returned in 2001.
Adams reunited again with Yanni for the 2003/2004 Ethnicity concert tour.
Discography Adams is credited as drummer or percussionist in the following albums, produced by Yanni unless otherwise noted.
YearTour / AlbumBillboard New Age(peak)Billboard 200(peak) Notes1987 Out of Silence 1988 Chameleon Days 1988 A Thousand Summers John Tesh1989 Niki Nana 2 1992 Yanni Gift Set (Reflections of Passion/In Celebration of Life) 1992 Romantic Moments 1992 Dare to Dream 2 32 Grammy-nominated (New Age)1994 Live at the Acropolis 1 5 Sept. 1993 concerts at the Acropolis of Athens;second best selling music video of all time1999 Love Songs 2006 Yanni Live! The Concert Event 1 84 2004 concert;No. 4 selling New Age album of both 2006 and 2007Peaked at No. 6 Billboard Top Independent Album (2006)2010 Love Songs/Reflections of Passion
Influences Adams has indicated his musical influences to include: Buddy Rich; the Beatles; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Black Sabbath; and Led Zeppelin.
References
External links
Charlie Adams at Drummer World.com Chameleon at MusicMight.com