Adam Wade, Pioneer Singer, Actor and Game Show Host, Dies at 87

Adam Wade, the smooth singer and actor who had three top 10 hits on the Billboard 100 in 1961 and appeared in films like the axis, crazy joe s claudina Before he could make history as a game show host, he died. He was 87 years old.

Wade died Thursday at his home in Montclair, New Jersey, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, said his wife, singer Jerry Wade. the hollywood reporter.

The Pittsburgh singer drew comparisons to Johnny Mathis when he made hits in 1961 with the romantic ballads “Take Good Care of Her”, which reached No. 7 (later recorded by Elvis Presley), “Writing on the Wall” (No. . and “Pretending I don’t know” (nº 10).

In a 2014 interview, Wade said he was “trying to emulate Nat King Cole, my childhood idol, not Johnny Mathis. So I think that says how good my acting skills were.

In June 1975, Wade became the first black person to host a game show on the network. musical chairsCreated by Don Kirshner. Recorded at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, it featured contestants trying to find the correct lyrics and song titles with the help of artists like The Spinners, Sister Sledge and Irene Cara.

Wade said the CBS affiliate in Alabama declined to air it. musical chairs Because he was the host and because the producers received a lot of hate mail before the show aired, despite its popularity, in October.

“Am I right [they] “He hid some letters from me,” Wade said, “so I wouldn’t get mad.” “One thing I saw was a guy who used all sorts of explanations and said he didn’t want his wife sitting at home watching a black man hand out money and intelligence.”

Born March 17, 1935, Patrick Henry Wade graduated from Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh in 1952. He studied science at Virginia State University and worked as a lab technician with Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine in the 1950s.

Wade signed to Coed Records in late 1959 and quickly topped the charts with a rendition of “Ruby”, the theme song from the 1952 Jennifer Jones film. ruby nobilityand “Tell him for me.”

When Wade arrived in New York, one of the first musicians he worked with was Nat’s brother Freddie Cole, and before he knew it, he was opening for Tony Bennett in Copacabana and appearing at game shows. Tell the truth.

After their first two albums, the 1960s And then came Adam and 1961 adam and the afternoonWade signed with Epic Records to replace Mathis on their roster, but never found the success he had with Coed.

Wade made his screen debut in a 1966 episode. Tarzan and appeared FBI s Adam-12 before appearing on the big screen the axis (1971), Back to Charleston Blue (1972), Across 110th street (1972), Gordon’s War (1973), crazy joe (1974), ghost of paradise (1974) and claudina (1974), starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones.

Wade’s television resume also included look for tomorrow, sandford and son, the jeffersons, What’s up!!, cop, kojak, Good time, the dukes of danger s The Trouble With Sheriff Lobo.

He has since returned to recording. musical chairs and substitute for Ben Vereen on Broadway I’m not rapport in 2002. He has also performed in many regional theaters.

Wade met Jerry on set musical chairsAnd they got married in 1989. They used to play together, even in a play. on kentucky avenuewho wrote and directed.

Also surviving are their children, Ramel, Patrice, Jamel and Latoya, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.