Ryan Adams is a US singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and poet from Jacksonville, United States, born in 1974. His work spans alternative country, alternative rock, americana, country, indie rock and rock.

Career

Adams first comes to prominence as part of Whiskeytown, a band he forms in 1994 and which becomes associated with the alt-country movement. The group releases two full albums, Faithless Street and Strangers Almanac, before disbanding in 1999. A third Whiskeytown album, Pneumonia, appears later in 2001.

After leaving Whiskeytown, he releases his first solo album, Heartbreaker, in 2000. The album is nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize. Ethan Johns produces Heartbreaker, and also works on Gold; Johns later produces 29 as well. Adams drops out of high school at 16 to work in a shoe shop and make music.

He is a notably prolific recording artist. In 2005 he releases Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights and 29, along with Demolition, Love Is Hell and Rock N Roll. He also has several unreleased studio albums, including 48 Hours, Exile On Franklin Street and Suicide Handbook.

Adams releases five albums with Ryan Adams & the Cardinals. The final album with that backing band is Cardinology, issued in 2008. He also resumes performing in 2010 after announcing an indefinite hiatus earlier in 2009, and releases Ashes & Fire in 2011.

Collaborations and side projects

He contributes backing vocals to “Butterfly in Reverse” on Counting Crows’ Hard Candy, after Adam Duritz appears on Gold. Adams also works with Jesse Malin in the punk-rock project The Finger, using the pseudonyms Warren Peace and Irving Plaza. The Finger releases two EPs, later collected as We Are Fuck You on One Little Indian Records in 2003.

Other pseudonyms used on streamed mini-albums on his website include DJ Reggie, Werewolph, The Shit, Rhoda Ro and Ghetto Birds. His associated acts also include Phil Lesh & Friends, The Patty Duke Syndrome, Blank Label and Ryan Adams and the Shining.

Selected releases and activity

Adams also appears on the Counting Crows album Hard Candy and has released material under his own name and with his backing bands. His label association includes Pax Americana Record Company.

Personal and health

He is the older brother of the musician and artist known as Chris Stills?