Composer, musician, poet, painter and Japanese art historian, Addiss studied at Mannes College of Music and took composition classes at the New School with
John Cage, with whom he maintained a friendship until Cage's death in 1992. With
Bill Crofut he toured internationally as a folk music duo and recorded nine albums. Addiss & Crofut also appeared on the "Johnny Carson," "Today," and "Captain Kangaroo" television shows.