Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Ryan Adams
Adams performing live with a Gibson ES-355, September 2006
Background information
Birth name	David Ryan Adams
Born	(1974-11-05) November 5, 1974 (age 42) Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States
Origin	Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Genres	Rock alternative country folk rock punk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician producer poet painter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano harmonica bass drums banjo
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Bloodshot Lost Highway PAX AM Capitol
Associated acts	Whiskeytown The Cardinals The Finger Pornography
Website	paxamrecords.com
Notable instruments
Gibson ES-355 Fender Telecaster 1974 Guild D-25 Harmony Sovereign H1264 Fender Jazzmaster Buck Owens American Gibson Hummingbird Gibson Les Paul

Ryan Adams (born David Ryan Adams; November 5, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, poet and painter. He is best known for his prolific solo career, during which he has released fifteen albums, and as a former member of alternative country band Whiskeytown, with whom he recorded three studio albums.

In 2000, Adams left Whiskeytown and released his debut solo album, Heartbreaker, to critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize. The following year, his profile increased with the release of the UK certified-gold Gold, which included the hit single, "New York, New York". During this time, Adams worked on several unreleased albums, which were consolidated into a third solo release, Demolition (2002). Working at a prolific rate, Adams released the classic rock-influenced Rock N Roll (2003), after a planned album, Love Is Hell, was rejected by his label Lost Highway. As a compromise, Love Is Hell was released as two EPs and eventually released in its full-length state in 2004.

After breaking his wrist during a live performance, Adams took a short-lived break, and formed The Cardinals, a backing band that would accompany him on four of his next studio albums. In 2009, following the release of Cardinology (2009), Adams disbanded The Cardinals and announced an extended break from music due to complications from Ménière's disease. The following year, however, Adams resumed performing and released his Glyn Johns-produced thirteenth studio album, Ashes & Fire, in 2011. The album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. In September 2014, Adams released his fourteenth album, Ryan Adams, on his own PAX AM label, and formed a new backing band, The Shining, to support the release.