Detroit is the city that gave the world Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Dianna Ross & Thornetta Davis. It was also the final resting place of Dinah Washington. But, the Queen of the Blues in Detroit has always been Alberta Adams. In the fifties she recorded for the historic Chess and Savoy labels. Alberta has toured all of America, singing with such greats as T-Bone Walker, Duke Ellington, Buddy Johnson and Louis Jordan.
Alberta got her start in the Hastings Street area. Detroit's Black Entertainment District. In the 1940s she worked as a tap dancer, a chorus girl, comedienne and emcee. In 1942, a singer in the show became ill and Alberta got her chance to sing and has been doing it ever since. Her specialty has always been the blues.
In 1997 she has received the Lifetime Achievement Award fromt he Detroit Blues Society. As well as Ladies of Distinction for WDIV who also recently profiled her on a television special.