Jay Boy Adams spent a number of years honing his craft playing in bands in Houston and then in Midland, Texas with noted bluesman Johnny Heartsman. In 1972 Adams landed an opening slot in Lubbock for ZZ Top, whose manager Bill Ham was impressed enough to recruit Adams as the group’s regular opening act.

After four years on the road with ZZ Top Adams hit the touring circuit in earnest again for the next six years, sharing concert bills with such artists as The Allman Brothers Band, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne, Marshall Tucker Band, Bonnie Raitt, The Kinks and many others.

Throughout the 1970s into the early ‘80s Adams spent some 200 to 250 days a year on the road. But the grind of touring and pursuing his musical ambitions eventually took their toll, and he was also intent on being a good father and husband. So he put his guitar down, left the road and quit music. “When I walked away, I walked away,” says Adams.

Country star Lee Roy Parnell invited Adams to join him onstage at a show in 1997, and his songwriting muse and love for playing guitar and performing returned with a vengeance. He has since toured on George Strait’s 1999 Country Music Festival, headlined the Kerrville Folk Festival and also toured Europe as a special guest star with The Texas Tornados.

Following the 2007 release of The Shoe Box, he hit the road again as a special guest opening for Stephen Stills.

Adams has also joined the Southern rock supergroup Brothers of the Southland alongside such notables as Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Henry Paul of The Outlaws and Blackhawk, “Dangerous” Dan Toler of the Allman Brothers, Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes, Bo Bice of “American Idol” fame and other top players.