The greatest soul singer to ever come out of New Orleans was born on this day in 1932. Thousands of singers have sprung from the breast of mother New Orleans and arguments could be made for dozens that they are “the best.”

But, just put on A Losing Battle, the Dr John-written and produced track that Adams put out in 1962 and tell me that he had a better.

Need more proof? Drop the needle on I Won’t Cry.

Who’s better? I’ll wait right here.

I got to see Mr Adams one time when I was still a teenager, and had a laughable fake ID that got me in the door of the storied Eldorado Club in the depths of Birmingham’s notorious West End.

He strolled onto the tiny stage wearing a super-sharp, 70s-looking two-piece suit, and proceeded to tear the house down for two hours including one of the fieriest encores I’ve ever heard in my life.

Johnny Adams passed away in 1998.