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Proclamation honoring Adam Wade, a singer, drummer and television actor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who will be performing at the Billy Strayhorn Centennial Concert.
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WHEREAS, Adam Wade, born Patrick Henry Wade, grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1952. After high school, Adam worked as a lab assistant for the research team for Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine. Adam went on to attend Virginia State University, but married his high school sweetheart, Jeree and soon left school in order to support his young family; and
WHEREAS, Adam, a talented vocalist, decided to switch his career path, and in 1960, he signed with Co-ed Records and produced the hit songs, Ruby and I Can’t Help It. In 1961, three of Adam’s recordings, Take Good Care of Her, As If I Didn’t Know and The Writing on the Wall made the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, Adam hosted the CBS game show Musical Chairs, making him the first African-American game show host; and
WHEREAS, Adam starred in the production of Guys and Dolls in 1978, and hosted the talk show Mid-Morning LA. He has appeared on television in The Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, Hill Street Blues, and Law & Order, and was a familiar presence on the popular sitcoms Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, What’s Happening and Good Times. Adam also appeared in several movies, including Gordon’s War, Shaft, Come Back Charleston Blue, Across 110th Street and The Education of Sonny Carson. Adam has received Audelco and Clio Awards for his work; and
WHEREAS, over forty years after leaving college, Adam returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree from Lehman College and his master’s degree from Brooklyn College. He is an adjunct professor of speech and theater at Long Island University and Bloomfield College. In 1983, Wade and his wife, Jeree Wade, started their own production company called Songbird’s Unlimited Productions;
NOW...
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