John Rainey Adkins
John Rainey Adkins | |
---|---|
Born | December 31, 1941 Dothan, Alabama |
Died | June 18, 1989 (aged 47) Dothan, Alabama |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | guitarist and songwriter |
Labels | RCA Victor |
Formerly of | The Candymen, Beaverteeth |
John Rainey Adkins (December 31, 1941 – June 18, 1989) was a self-taught guitarist and songwriter from Dothan, Alabama.[1] Adkins experienced commercial success in America during his music career in the 1960s and 1970s with the bands The Candymen and Beaverteeth. Adkins' bands played live on The Ed Sullivan Show,[2] American Bandstand, and NBC's Midnight Special.
Early life
John Rainey Adkins was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama. He attended
Career
Early career
Adkins started the band The Webs in the late 1950s, The Webs would later evolve into The Candymen. Adkins attended Auburn University for one year before pursuing his musical career full time. A big break came when a former high school friend, Buddy Buie, hired his band Adkins's band The Webs to play back up to Roy Orbison at the National Peanut Festival in the early 1960s. Orbison was impressed with The Webs and hired them on the spot to become his regular touring band. Orbison also renamed the band as The Candymen, a nod to Orbison's 1961 radio hit "The Candy Man." Adkins and his band The Candymen would tour with Orbison much of the 1960s.[5] They would open for The Beatles, The Yardbirds, and the Hollies.[6] They also worked with Orbison in the recording studio.
Adkins played with Orbison on the
Late career
In 1972, John Rainey Adkins formed the band Beaverteeth with his brother David Adkins.
The last musical project Adkins worked on was in 1989 at the age of 47. He was signed to Tree Publishing and co-wrote a song for the band Shenandoah. Adkins died suddenly on June 18, 1989. His image can be found memorialized on the Music Mural in downtown Dothan, Alabama.[12]
References
- ^ "John Rainey Adkins". Wiregrass Blues Society. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ "Roy Orbison". Ed Sullivan Show. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ "Band Uniforms Of Dothan High Unique In Style". The Dothan Eagle. Dothan, Alabama. April 7, 1960. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ "New Yearbook Arrives Dothan High". The Dothan Eagle. Dothan, Alabama. May 13, 1960. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Carrollton, Betty (November 4, 1967). "Atlanta 'Candymen" Greatest Sound Since the Beatles". The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Kurt, Lassen (January 5, 1968). "The Candymen Are Working Together As A Team". The Oil City Derrick. Oil City, Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ King, Bill (March 31, 1979). "No Perfect Scorecards in Rock". Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. p. 81. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ O'Connor, Rory (October 26, 1967). "TeenTopics: The Candymen". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Lassen, Kurt (January 13, 1968). "The Candymen Really Rocking Around". Nashua Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Huffman, Jim (December 1, 1973). "Beaverteeth's new one". The Selma Times Journal. Selma, Alabama.
- ^ "Beaverteeth Appears with Starbuck". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. May 1, 1977. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ Ussery, Peggy. "New mural celebrates local musical influences". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved 2021-06-08.