In his early career he worked as a complaints clerk at the local power company, while writing poetry and song lyrics in his spare time.

Adair and Dennis wrote numerous songs for Dorsey, Bing Crosby, and Dinah Shore, and penned Frank Sinatra's hit "Let's Get Away from It All."

He had chosen the song for his attempt as a soloist, a ballad, naturally, all dripping with romance: it was 'The Night We Called It a Day', by these new kids Matt Dennis and Tom Adair, who’d written 'Let’s Get Away from It All' and 'Violets for Your Furs.'

"[2] From June 1944, Adair worked with composer Gordon Jenkins in writing a complete score every week for the Auto-Lite radio show, which featured singer Dick Haymes.

[3] It ran for 180 performances at the Broadhurst Theatre, with the original cast including Carol Bruce, Jackie Gleason, George S. Irving, Hank Ladd, Donald Richards and Nancy Walker.

As well as helped shaped the Disneyland amusement park brand with his contributions to The Country Bear Jamboree, Miss Teddi Beara, and The Golden Horseshoe Review.