- He began his recording career for Coed records in 1959 and hit the charts with his first 2 singles "Tell Her For Me" and "Ruby". In 1961 he had scored three U.S. top 10 hits, "Take Good Care of Her", "The Writing on the Wall" and "As If I Didn't Know" .
- Was a laboratory technician for Dr. Jonas E. Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine, when he decided to give it up and pursue a music career.
- A two-time Audelco Award Winner as Best Actor in a Romantic Comedy for "There's Still Such a Thing as Love" (1999). Also twice nominated for a Clio Award, he finally won for his commercial Virgin Island "Fifty Dollar Days."
- Over the years he has shared the stage with Ruth Brown in "Staggerlee," Della Reese in "Same Next, Next Year" and Leslie Uggams in a Las Vegas production of "Guys and Dolls."
- In 1983, "Shades of Harlem" was created by his wife, the singer/actress/playwright Jeree Wade at Brown University via Adam and Jeree's company Songbirds Unlimited Productions. Jeree developed the musical production as a tribute to the Harlem sound she remembered. Adam has directed the production.
- Recently served as print ad spokesperson for Nicoderm.
- Appearing as "Ol' Mister" in the national tour of "The Color Purple." (2008)
- His three children are Sheldon W. Wade, born 5 October 1956; Patrice L. Wade, born 3 December 1957; and Michael Wade, born 28 September 1960, all of whom are from first wife Kay Wade. His children were raised in the Downtown area of Brooklyn, New York, known as Fort Green. The older children were born in Pittsburgh; the youngest, Michael, was born in New York. Sheldon Wade changed his name to Ramel and is currently living in Maryland; Patrice Wade is currently living in Pittsburg under her married name Patrice Johnson and is the inspirational author of two books "Lundyn Bridges" (2007) & "The Wisdom Seed" (2004) and has written and directed the plays "In Your Mirror I See Me", "Sitting on Top of the World" and "Cindy: an Urban Fairytale"; Michael Wade changed his name to Jamel Wade, lives in Maryland, and is currently acting on the HBO series "The Wire" in the reoccurring role of a Drug Lord. He has performed in several local plays in the Baltimore-Washington area, including "Anna Lucasta" and "South Pacific". His credits include actor, director, sound board operator, assistant director and writer.
- He and his wife Jeree ran Songbird Productions, a theatrical company that produced historical African American projects, including the musical "Shades of Harlem," which was staged Off Broadway at the Village Gate in 1983.
- Wade briefly returned to recording, producing a self-titled album on the Kirschner record label, which was distributed by Columbia Records. This was a venture into a more soulful singing genre. It met with moderate success but is still a favorite with his loyal fans.
- Died a few days after his Kiss Me Goodbye co-star James Caan.
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