Originally from New York, r&b chanteuse Akina Adderley relocated to Austin, Texas, where she now fronts the Vintage Playboys. Though steeped in soul, the band draws on other styles as well, including summery jazz and sleek rock. In a review of the band’s album “Say Yes,” Allmusic’s Mark Deming wrote that “this is a group that honors the present and the past, and the smarts, passion, and joy these songs are steeped in are timeless.”
A third-generation musician, Adderley is the daughter of Nat Adderley Jr., the musical director for Luther Vandross. Grandfather Nat Adderley Sr. was a jazz cornetist who performed as a solo artist and alongside his brother, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Recently, Akina Adderley joined another New York transplant, Charlie Faye, in her girl group project, the Fayettes. In this interview, she shared many facets of her career, including her years as a drama student, working with the Fayettes and memories of Vandross.
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