The passing of venerated keyboardist Marc Adams left an indelible gap in the local music community. Revered for his use of the Hammond B3 organ, the musician’s career spanned decades and included work with Marva Wright, Bryan Lee, Amy and the Hank Sinatras, Brint Anderson, Cyril Neville, and George Porter, Jr. On August 20, Mr. Adams lost his years-long battle with cancer and in the days since, family and friends have united to organize a memorial event to take place on Monday, September 11 at Rock ‘n’ Bowl.
Mem Shannon, Luther Kent, Benny Turner, Colin Lake, and Andy J. Forest are just a few of the scheduled performers who will honor the late Adams at the event. All of the proceeds will go to his widow, Claire. As reported by The Advocate, the event’s foremost organizer is Adams’ long time friend and collaborator, drummer Allyn Robinson. “It would be easier to say what bands he didn’t play with than what bands he did,” Robinson shared with the outlet. “He loved playing. It didn’t matter who or why. He had a special vibe. When he showed up on a gig, you knew it would be fun.”
Adams was also a celebrated solo artist, recording and releasing his own CDs, though most recently he released “Supervision Needed” under the collaborative name Adams Robinson Project.
In 2014, Adams spoke with OffBeat about being a touring musician, more specifically one who travels with an instrument as mighty as the Hammond B3. “It takes such maintenance to keep a B3 and a Leslie amp working properly. There are so many things that can go wrong. If you take the back off of an organ, it looks like spaghetti back there with all the wires and motors and tone wheels and belts and all those kinds of things. With the electronic instruments, you don’t have those types of problems,” he said at the time. That statement is indicative of his devotion to his craft, a fact recognized by the Hammond organization. Calling him “the first call for the touring, recording and performing Hammond organ and piano community in New Orleans,” Adams has been named an official honoree by the company.
Those unable to attend the September 11 event at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl – which runs from 7-10p.m. – are invited to a memorial service taking place Sunday, September 10, at Our Lady of Guadalupe church, 411 N. Rampart St. at 3p.m. Following the service will be a repast at Irene’s, where Adams was a mainstay on the keys at the restaurant’s piano bar. From there, a second line will head to the River, providing the community at large with a chance to remember the legacy of one of New Orleans’ most beloved and dedicated musicians.
