Patrick Henry Wade, professionally known as Adam Wade, is a multi-talented individual who has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began his career as a lab assistant for Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine, in the late 1950s.
Wade's passion for music led him to pursue a career in singing, and he quickly gained recognition for his smooth, gifted vocals. His early influences included Johnny Mathis and Nat 'King' Cole, and he released his debut single "Ruby" in 1959. He went on to sign with CoEd Records and score several mild successes, including "I Can't Help It." In 1961, he released the chart-topping singles "Take Good Care of Her," "Writing on the Wall," and "As If I Didn't Know."
However, comparisons to Johnny Mathis at CoEd Records hindered his momentum, and he moved to Epic Records, where only one of his singles, "Crying in the Chapel," broke the "Top 100" charts.
In the late 1960s, Wade discovered voiceover work and began his acting career. He appeared in the national tour of the musical "Hallelujah, Baby!" and went on to participate in the "blaxploitation" scene of the early 1970s. He appeared in several films, including "Shaft," "Come Back Charleston Blue," "Across 110th Street," and "The Education of Sonny Carson."
Wade's television career included appearances in the soaps "The Guiding Light" and "Search for Tomorrow," as well as several popular black-oriented sitcoms, including "Sanford & Son," "The Jeffersons," "What's Happening," and "Good Times." In 1975, he became the first African-American to host a national television game show with "Musical Chairs."
Wade's music career received a boost in 1978 when he released the funkier album "Alexander's Soul Time Band" on Kirshner Records. He continued to act and appeared in several films, including "Texas Lightning" and "Kiss Me Goodbye."
In addition to his entertainment career, Wade is also a dedicated educator. He earned his BA and Master's degrees at Lehman College and Brooklyn College, respectively, and went on to become a speech and theater adjunct at LIU and Bloomfield College. He has also appeared frequently on the L.A.-area stage.
Wade has been married twice, first to Kay Wade, with whom he had three children, and then to entertainer Jeree Wade, with whom he has continued to produce shows and perform together on cruise ships and in concert forums.
