Adekola Adedapo
b. 1948
Adekola Adedapo (vocalist) was born in Chicago on March 5, 1948. She was introduced to music by her grandfather, who was part-owner of Club 411, a bar on the South Side of Chicago that hosted jam sessions and featured Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan on the jukebox. She attended Michigan State University, where she was encouraged to sing jazz. Adekola moved to Milwaukee in 1973 and was involved with the civil rights movement. She left to live in South Carolina for two and a half years to learn about African indigenous religion and vocal techniques. After returning to Milwaukee in 1978, she became involved with Milwaukee’s jazz scene through Buddy Montgomery. Adekola moved back to Chicago in the early 1980s but returned in the early 1990s, performing regularly at venues such as The Estate and the Main Event with organist Melvin Rhyne, drummer Victor Soward, saxophonist Berkeley Fudge, pianist Dean Lea, and others. Adekola established herself as one of the city’s premier vocalists, known for captivating audiences with her storytelling and interpretations of jazz standards, sometimes incorporating African chants.
Adekola spent years teaching in the Milwaukee Public School system and was the Multicultural Program Coordinator for Alverno College. She works with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Arts in the Community Education program and performs as a jazz vocalist throughout the city. She is the mother of three children, including American Idol Season 10 top 10 finalist Naima Adedapo.
Check out Adekola singing at Blu at the top of the Pfister Hotel with Mark Davis on piano, Jeff Hamann on bass, and Sam Belton on drums, captured on a phone video in 2024 by guitarist John Zaffiro.
