Alberta Adams, born Roberta Louise Osborne, is a Detroit blues and jump blues singer born in Indianapolis, Indiana sometime in the early 1920s. She was raised in Detroit, Michigan by a relative, and got her break in the 1940s performing in a club on Hastings Street amidst other artists like John Lee Hooker.

Soon after she landed a contract with Chess Records and recorded alongside Red Saunders for the label. She found herself touring with the likes of Duke Ellington, Eddie Vinson and Louis Jordan, only to name a few. Her solo career really did not lift off ground until the 1990s, when she landed a contract with the now defunct Cannonball Records and recorded two albums for them, 1999s "Born With the Blues" and 2000s "Say Baby Say". In 2004 she recorded "I'm on the Move", for the Eastlawn Records label.

She has been the undisputed Queen of the Blues in Detroit for many decades. 

Alberta has long been the undisputed Queen of the Blues here in Detroit. She started as a dancer in the late 1940's and has been doing it ever since. Along the way she toured with T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, Cleanhead Vinson and even played the Apollo Theater with Dizzy Gillespie. It is amazing that a woman born in 1917 is still out there doing it and doing with power. She continues to represent the real old school and is still touring. She just got back from a tour down south in fact!

Alberta has just completed her third CD for the Eastlawn label, called "Detroit Is My Home." On it she sings with three different and amazing pianists: Mark Braun, aka Mr. B, Al Hill (from the Bettye LeVette Band) and Ann Rabson, from Virginia. Ann is a member of Saffire, a great all female blues band that tours internationally. All three are fine pianists that offer different takes on the blues. Mark being the boogie-woogie expert, Ann coming from an old-timey music background and Al, whom has toured with Alberta, being a little funkier than the others. All three are great Alberta Adams fans!

"RJ Spangler is Detroit to the bone. Not only is our foremost revivalist of authentic classic R&B talent, he's also a hell of a drummer.  Every move that he makes is informed by his love & passion for the music of this city. This collaboration with Bill Heid is a wonderful addition to both of their extensive catalogs."

 
Matty Lee

I first started playing little gigs around Detroit with Bill Heid way back in 1985.  We had a regular Sunday gig at the Tap Room on the eastside with James O'Donnell and Kurt Krahnke.  We were mixing up swing, bop & blues, much like we do to this day, because that is what we like to do.  Back then Bill was turning me onto lots of great records which over the years have influenced me greatly.  

At this point it might be germane to mention that Bill Heid is quite a musician & singer.  Born & raised in Pittsburgh, PA, he grew up digging serious jazz, blues & doo wop.  He lived in Chicago for a number of years, recording with Koko Taylor (twice), Fenton Robinson (twice) and Roy Buchanan, all on the Alligator label.  He has recorded for many labels since including impulce!, Black Magic, Cannonball, Wetside, Savant and many more.  He is now a journeyman having backed the likes of David "Fathead" Newman, Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Jay McNeely. Bill lived in Detroit for over two decades where he created a large following of serious musicians.  I count myself to be one of them.

By the early 1990's Bill was often living for long periods of time in either LA or Osaka, Japan.  Upon returning one year, I hired him on a little private party gig.  He was blown away by the guitar player that I had hired, the now legendary Johnnie Bassett.  After a Heid style interview with Johnnie on the first break, Bill came back and told me that Johnnie was the guitar on all those old Fortune Records sides that he'd turned me onto a few years previously. That was basically the start of Johnnie Bassett & the Blues Insurgents, a name that Bill had devised. 

"You Know I Can't Refuse" refers to a tune that Bill has been singing with us all these years.  It was originally on one of those old Fortune sides, by the Five Dollars, backed by Joe Weaver & the Blue Notes (featuring Johnnie on guitar).  It should be noted that Alberta Adams' only son, James Drayton, was the baritone singer on that record.  I have been professionally linked to Alberta for about 15 years now so the title is appropriate indeed. 

Except for the boogie composed by Bill on the spot, these are all cover tunes that we would do in the course of any gig with Bill & the cats. Blues tunes by Floyd Dixon, Jimmy Witherspoon, etc.  As we had never recorded these tunes and with Bill, now living between Baltimore and Shanghai, it was a rare chance to record them for posterity.  You hold the results in your hand. I sincerely hope that you dig these wonderful old tunes as much as we have. 

RJ Spangler

Vocalist Odessa Harris represents a generation of artists connected to the birth of rhythm and blues popular in American music. Deeply rooted in the musical traditions of The Mississippi Delta region, her charismatic performances consistently display an innate ability to express themes in music that transcend classification. In a career that spans over five decades, Ms. Harris continues to deliver a diverse selection of music guaranteed to warm the heart of any audience.

Born in West Helena, Arkansas on June 8, 1936 – Odessa Harris began singing in the choir at a local Baptist Church. After a few years of singing with various bands at local gambling establishments (“crap houses”), Ms. Harris landed an engagement with James “Peck” Curtis and The King Biscuit Boys on radio station KFFA 1360am during the Peabody award-winning blues radio program, “King Biscuit Time” – she was 14 years old at the time! This led to a tour as a featured vocalist with Robert Nighthawk.

In the pursuit of further exposure, she worked with a touring carnival show managed by entrepreneur Jerry Jackson between 1949-1953. Frustrated with conditions in the industry, Ms. Harris relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where she became a fixture in the local nightclubs. During the summer of 1959, Ms. Harris and a few girlfriends visited a local nightclub in order to hear visiting artist, B.B. King. Upon request of the audience, Ms. Harris joined the band for a few tunes. At the end of the performance, Odessa was summoned to visit the artist dressing room, where Mr. King invited her to join his organization, with one stipulation – “if you want a job, the bus leaves in the morning.” Ms. Harris accepted the invitation, working as a featured vocalist with B.B. King from 1959 until 1961, recording two 45(s) for The Uptown label – highlighted by an energetic performance of Buddy Johnson’s, “Since I fell for you.” Upon her departure in 1961, she found new management and relocated to Miami, Florida. A chance meeting with Clive Davis facilitated recording sessions in New York for Capitol records. Although this material was released on two 45-Lp(s), all publicity for these recordings was neglected in lieu of management for Nancy Wilson and Dinah Washington.

Upon the recommendation of her manager, Jack Millman, Ms. Harris moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1972. After several years working as a freelance vocalist in the Midwest, she reconnected with drummer Sonny Freeman (Bobby “Blue” Bland, B.B. King). Sonny Freeman and the Unusuals (featuring Odessa Harris) and was a fixture in the Midwest rhythm & blues circuit until the death of Mr. Freeman in the late 1980’s. Ms. Harris retired from her active performance schedule, seeking shelter within the community of a local Buddhist temple.

During her hiatus from the music industry, Odessa was consistently encouraged by jazz trumpeter and fellow Buddhist Marcus Belgrave (Ray Charles, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra) to reconsider public performance. A visit to The Music Menu Café with Mr. Belgrave yielded an introduction to drummer/manager R.J. Spangler. For the past three years, Ms. Harris has made select appearances in Southeastern Michigan and northern Ohio with an ensemble under the direction of R.J. Spangler, featuring guitarist John Barron and organist Duncan McMillan. The Easy Life (Eastlawn Records), her first recording in over 30 years, is available now.