Adams grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas and began studying piano at the age of 6. Due to his mother forcing him to practice the instrument, he found transitioning to beginning percussion class when he was 12 easy and exhilarating. He went to college at the University of Arkansas where he gained a degree in music education. While at the University he participated in the Percussion Ensemble, Steel Pandemonium (steel pan band), the UA orchestra, the Marching Razorbacks, the Latin Ensemble, the Jazz band, and the UA Wind Symphony which performed at Carnegie Hall in 2000. Adams also was the winner of the Honors Recital competition in 2000.

Since he was 16 until the fall of 2006, Adams taught in the Fayetteville public school system, coordinating drum lines, percussion ensembles, private lessons, and running concert band rehearsals when the directors were out of town. He has taught at the University of Arkansas Band camp for three summers.

After finishing his undergraduate degree, Adams actively participated in the Northwest Arkansas music scene. His groove based band Minkus Finkus was a local favorite and received two Northwest Arkansas Music awards and one Ozark Music award. The band performed twice at the Charlie Christian Jazz festival in Oklahoma City and also at The Great Unknown music festival. He was a member of the local rock group Markham Hill playing Fender Rhodes and the Brazilian group Trio de Janeiro playing drums. Adams also has led his own jazz trios, playing restaurants and country clubs.

In the fall of 2006, Adams accepted an assistantship at the University of Colorado where he is pursuing a master's degree in jazz studies.

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