- Composed "The Lonely Man Theme" featuring harmonica for the Strand cigarettes ad (1959) directed by Carol Reed. In spite of its artistic quality, it failed dismally as an ad campaign. It featured a man (played by Terence Brook) walking alone at night in London. No-one liked the cigarettes and the brand was withdrawn in 1960.
- He was drafted into the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, and became part of the RAF band, performing mostly in Africa.
- On 3 July 1959 the singers first appeared on the BBC Light Programme in Sing Something Simple, also featuring Jack Emblow on piano and accordion. Featuring Adams's own arrangements of popular songs, the show was originally commissioned for six programmes, but was so successful that it was immediately extended, and continued to be broadcast every Sunday until shortly after Adams' death in 2001.
- In 1949, he formed a vocal group, The Stargazers, with Fred Datchler, Dick James (later replaced by Bob Brown), Ronnie Milne and Marie Benson. The group found success backing leading singers of the day.
- Adams also worked in the new medium of television advertising, writing many jingles, such as for Murray Mints, Fry's Turkish Delight, Milk Tray and Smash instant mashed potato.
- After the war he joined the Leslie Douglas band, and began working on arrangements for other bandleaders including Bert Ambrose, Ted Heath and Cyril Stapleton.
- The Cliff Adams Singers were also recruited by Duke Ellington to perform with him in Coventry Cathedral in 1964, and Adams provided the score for the 1976 West End musical, Liza of Lambeth.
- In 1954, Adams formed a new group, the Show Band Singers, for live appearances, but the group was renamed the Cliff Adams Singers when it moved into broadcasting.
- The actress and entertainer Anita Harris was, at various times, a singer with the group.
- He became a chorister at St Mary le Bow, Cheapside, studied piano and organ, and by his mid-teens started a professional musical career as a big band pianist.
- According to one obituary of Adams, the Singers had a "smooth, melodic and unruffled sound [that] fitted a still nostalgic British post-war musical atmosphere.".
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