| Biography | The Cliff Adams Singers were a British vocal group, known for ballads and novelty songs, and especially their regular performances on BBC Radio from the 1950s onwards. The ensemble was established in 1954 by Clifford William Adams.
Cliff Adams began his career as a chorister and pianist. In 1949 he formed a vocal group, The Stargazers, with Fred Datchler, Dick James, Ronnie Milne and Marie Benson. The group found success backing leading singers of the day. Adams also worked in the new medium of television advertising, writing many jingles, such as for Murray Mints, Fry's Turkish Delight, Milk Tray and Smash instant mashed potato.
In 1954, Adams formed a new group, the Show Band Singers, for live appearances. The group was renamed the Cliff Adams Singers when it moved into broadcasting. In 1959 the singers first appeared on the BBC Light Programme in Sing Something Simple. Featuring Adams's own arrangements of popular songs, the show was originally commissioned for six programmes, but was so successful that it was extended, and continued to be broadcast every Sunday until shortly after Adams' death in 2001. |