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American jazz saxophonist and bandleader, a central figure in hard bop and soul jazz movements.Florida-born musician who gained fame in the 1950s, played with Miles Davis on 'Kind of Blue', led influential quintet with brother Nat Adderley, pioneered soul-jazz fusion with hits like 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'.

• Nicknamed 'Cannibal' in school for his enormous appetite, later mispronounced as 'Cannonball' by a club owner, which became his stage name.
• Worked as a high school music teacher before quitting to pursue jazz after sitting in with Oscar Pettiford's band in 1955, instantly earning a recording contract.
• His quintet's 1966 hit 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' (composed by Joe Zawinul) unexpectedly crossed over to #11 on Billboard pop charts, rare for instrumental jazz.
• Died at 46 from a stroke caused by complications from diabetes; collapsed backstage after a concert in Indiana.