Legendary Canadian jazz musician Charles R. "Bucky" Adams died of cancer Friday morning at the age of 75.

Wayne Adams, his cousin, confirmed that Adams died Friday morning after succumbing to his six-month battle with cancer. Wayne told CBC News the family thought Adams was doing well, and that his death comes as a big shock.

'It's been very rewarding - no money - but it's, hey it's not about the money, it's about having fun, doing what you like. And I'm still doing it, thank God.'—Bucky Adams in a 2007 CBC interview

Born into a large musical family on Halifax's Maynard Street in 1937, Adams played alongside many famous artists, including Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie and B.B. King.

At the age of 11, Adams performed for the Queen during a royal visit in 1948.

At an early age Adams picked up the trumpet to play alongside his father on the saxophone.

In the following years, Adams played his trumpet with such intensity that it blew apart during one of his frequent performances at the Gerrish Street Hall.

Determined that the "show must go on" he ran home between sets and borrowed his father's sax, returning just in time to step back on stage. This fateful event resulted in Adams embarking on a lifelong love affair with the tenor sax, according to his website.

Bucky Adams, 75, has played with such Jazz legends as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie and B.B. King. He died Friday morning. (CBC)

From 1991 until his death, Adams was a regular fixture at the annual Halifax Jazz Festival as well as at the Harbourview Lounge in the Northwood Centre every Wednesday.

In a 2007 CBC News story, Adams said if he could do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing.

"I'd like to do it the same way, with music. It's a nice way to go through life. It's been very rewarding - no money - but it's, hey, it's not about the money, it's about having fun, doing what you like. And I'm still doing it, thank God," Adams said.