Placide A. Adams Jr. was an exemplary and stalwart proponent of traditional New Orleans jazz.

Born Aug 30, 1929 near Algiers, Louisiana, his mother, Dolly Douroux, led a family band, which Adams joined in 1941 when he was 13. Starting off as a drummer, he soon became adept on bass and vocals as well. In the early 1950s, he played and recorded with traditional jazz bands led by Papa Celestine, Louis Cottrell, Paul Barbarin, Kid Howard, and Sweet Emma Barrett. He then toured with early rhythm and blues stars like Clyde McPhatter, Ruth Brown, Roy Brown, B.B. King and Big Joe Turner.

Placide Adams returned to traditional jazz in the 1960s, becoming a founding member of Preservation Hall. He toured Japan, Europe, and Australia with the Original Dixieland Hall Jazz Band.

In 1978, Adams became the fourth leader of a New Orleans institution - The Onward Brass Band (founded in 1886). Often parading with Pete Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club on Mardi Gras, and appearing at Carnegie Hall with Al Hirt, Adams continued leading the Onward Brass Band right up until his death.

But, in addition to the Onward Brass Band, Adams remained leader of the Original Dixieland Hall Jazz Band. From 1991 until he died in 2003, he was a fixture with the band at the popular Hilton Hotel jazz-themed brunches.