John Adidam Littlejohn

John Adidam Littlejohn, known professionally as Adidam, is an American music producer, vocalist, violinist, songwriter, emcee and educator. He blends classical music with hip-hop, Middle-Eastern, jazz, gospel, and latin music which creates a new and unique sound. He served as the concertmaster of the Newark Symphony, Baltimore Sinfonietta, and Darin Atwater’s Soulful Symphony and has been a member of a number of orchestras and ensembles including the Baltimore Opera Orchestra.
A.d.i.d.a.m., which is an acronym for All Day I Dream About Music, has produced two full-length albums, Violinistik and All Day I Dream About Music.
Adidam performed Ave Maria for the soundtrack of the award-winning movie, American Mary. John is also a member of Infinitus, a genre-bending, beat boxing string trio; and the executive director and founder of the Thrive City String Academy, a summer music camp for low-income music students.
John Adidam Littlejohn is the lead actor in a Farxiga commercial, aired in the USA and Canada (10/2015 - present).
Early life and education
John, born John Henry Littlejohn, was born into a low-income neighborhood in Lansing, Michigan. By society’s standards, he was not meant to be a violinist; his family was financially poor, he had never seen nor heard anyone play classical music, and he did not begin when he was a toddler. John describes his foray into music as a story of God’s plan and John’s ignorance.
John erroneously signed up for 6th grade orchestra at an inner-city middle school in Lansing, Michigan. He thought he was signing up for the jazz band but was disappointed when he arrived to a room filled with stringed instruments. While trying to make the best of the situation, he asked to play the double bass - the only instrument he recognized. There was only one bass, and it was taken. He then chose the cello, which looked like a baby double bass, but they were already spoken for. He did not know what a viola was. That day began his long lasting relationship with the violin.
John Adidam Littlejohn is a graduate of the The Peabody Institute where he completed a Master of Music degree and a Graduate Performance Diploma in violin performance with Herbert Greenberg after completing a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Michigan.
Music career
John Adidam Littlejohn’s music career spans from solo violin, orchestral and chamber music to hip-hop and jazz.
His solo engagements include performances with C.O.S.M.I.C., European tours with the International Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1997 and 2003, and recitals and performances in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has performed with Take 6, The Clark Sisters, Michael Buble, Branford Marsalis, Melba Moore, Richard Smallwood, SaulPaul and Regina Carter. Adidam has produced two full-length albums, Violinistik (2007) and All Day I Dream About Music(2005).
In July 2004, he was featured on NPR as a young, promising musician who successfully combines his classical style with hip-hop. As a composer, his compositions and arrangements have been performed by Infinitus, the YAE Chamber Orchestra, the Young Eight String Octet, the Marni Duo, the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, and the Soulful Symphony.
In 2008, John with violist Anthony Cheung and Cellist Alex Cheung formed Infinitus. The trio have released two albums to date: Infinitus(2011) and “Christmas Fantasia”(2014). They are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and perform regularly as part of the Vancouver Chamber Players Concert Series. The group is currently on the faculty of the Thrive City String Boot Camp, the Saint James Music Academy, and the Vancouver Academy of Music.
John provided background strings for flutist Delandria Mills’ album, Manifestation (2009) and recorded “Ave Maria” for the soundtrack of the award-winning movie, American Mary (2012).
In 2015 Christian Hip Hop violinist and Rapper John Adidam Littlejohn released his First solo music video, Caterpillar.
Teaching
Littlejohn has been on the faculty of several music programs, including the Austin Chamber Music Center, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Young Artist Experience.
Recordings/Film
* Christmas Fantasia, Thrive City Productions ©2014: arranged, composed, and performed on Infinitus’ Christmas album
* American Mary, Industry Works Pictures ©2012: Recorded violin solo “Ave Maria” for soundtrack
* Infinitus, Thrive City Productions ©2011: Produced, arranged, composed, and performed music on Infinitus’ debut album
* Live it to the Fullest, Whol-e Productions ©2010: Rap vocals and background strings for inspirational recording artist, Tyrone “TDG” Gordon
* Artie the Ant, Atomic Cartoons ©2010: Recorded violin solos for 2-3 episodes
* Driven to Kill, Insight Film Studios ©2009: Recorded fiddle solo for soundtrack
* Manifestation, Delandria Mills ©2009: Provided background strings for flutist Delandria Mills’ album
* Tower To Tower, ReRoute Productions ©2007: Background strings for solo emcee, SaulPaul
* Violinistik, Thrive City Productions (Indie) ©2007: Solo recording
* All Day I Dream About Music, Thrive City Productions (Indie) ©2005: Solo recording featuring a mixture of classical, hip-hop, bossa-nova, and dance music
* Caterpillar © 2015: Solo music video.
Personal life
John Adidam Littlejohn resides in the greater Vancouver area of British Columbia with his wife, Paula and their children.<ref name="Meet Our Teachers-John Littlejohn"/>

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