Faye Adams
Faye Adams was a pioneering American R&B and gospel singer known for her powerful voice and hits in the 1950s. Born Fanny Tuell on May 22, 1923, in Newark, New Jersey (some sources note nearby Essex County or Montclair), she began performing young with her sisters as The Tuell Sisters in local churches and on radio gospel programs. She married musician Tommy Scruggs in 1942, adopting the name Faye Scruggs for nightclub gigs in New Jersey and New York.
Discovered by Ruth Brown in Atlanta, she auditioned for Atlantic Records but joined Joe Morris & His Blues Cavalcade in 1952, recording her debut "That's What Makes My Baby Fat" and "I'm Gonna Leave You." Manager Phil Moore renamed her Faye Adams and signed her to Herald Records; her 1953 single "Shake a Hand" topped the R&B charts for 10 weeks, selling a million copies and earning a gold disc.
Follow-ups like "I'll Be True" (another R&B #1) and "Hurts Me to My Heart" (a third #1 in 1954) solidified her fame, with sales nearing two million combined; dubbed "the little gal with the big voice" by Alan Freed. She went solo as "Atomic Adams," toured with acts like the Drifters and Spaniels, and appeared in the 1955 film Rhythm & Blues Revue.
By 1957, she left Herald for Imperial ("Keeper of My Heart") and smaller labels like Lido, Warwick, and Prestige, but success faded amid rock & roll's rise; her last notable effort was 1962's "Goodnight, My Love." She returned to gospel in New Jersey and reportedly passed away on November 2, 2016.
Shake A Hand
Written-By – Morris
A2 That's All Right
Written-By – Dixon, Banks
A3 It Can't Be Wrong
Written-By – Gannon, Steiner
A4 Look Around
Written-By – Jay, Orbrecht
A5 If You Love Me
Written-By – Pilgrim, Adams
A6 It Hurts Me To My Heart
Written-By – Singleton, McCoy
B1 I'll Be True To You
Written-By – McLemore
B2 It Made Me Cry
Written-By – Covay, Berry
B3 I Waited So Long
Written-By – Livingston & Evans
B4 I'm So Happy
Written-By – Adams
B5 Somebody, Somewhere
Written-By – Roberts, McCoy
B6 I Don't Want Your Love
Written-By – Pilgrim, Adams
Label: Warwick – W 2031
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: R&B Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues
Faye Adams’ Shake A Hand (Warwick W2031) is a 1961 compilation that captures the "little gal with the big voice" during her peak years. It serves as a definitive look at her transition from gospel to secular R&B, a sound that influenced icons like Elvis Presley and Little Richard.
The Title Track: "Shake a Hand" is the undisputed centerpiece. Originally released as a single in 1953, it topped the R&B charts for 9–10 weeks. It is widely regarded as one of the first recorded examples of soul music, blending a secular vow of devotion with a "scorching" gospel-inspired vocal delivery.
Critics praise Adams for her powerful, "towering" vocals that remain deeply rooted in her upbringing as a gospel singer in New Jersey.
The album features a mix of slow-to-midtempo R&B ballads and jump blues, characterized by attractive melodies and prominent piano work.
The release maintains high marks among collectors, often earning between 4/5 and 5/5 stars on enthusiast platforms like Discogs.
Original pressings of the Warwick W2031 mono LP are highly sought after by Northern Soul and R&B collectors, with rare copies selling for over $230 in auction.
While Adams was seen as an artist whose peak had passed by the late 1950s, this 1961 release preserved her status as a pioneer who bridged the gap between religious and popular music.