He started playing piano as a child and had his first song, "I'm on My Way", recorded by his uncle Cannonball on the 1967 album Why Am I Treated So Bad!
[2][3] While at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City, Adderley first met Luther Vandross, who attended Taft High School in the Bronx.
[2] While living in Houston, Texas, he was the music arranger for the 1981 album Never Too Much which became Vandross's first hit with the title track, which reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fourth on the dance charts.
[2] Adderley returned to his jazz roots, performing his own works, as well as tributes to both his father and uncle.
In a 2009 interview with the Star-Ledger he said pianists "who are killing me" include Kenny Barron, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton and Joe Zawinul.