A pioneering African American composer and bandleader, known for blending jazz and classical music, and leading the US Navy's first all-black band during World War II.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. is remembered primarily as the first black bandmaster in the United States Navy, a distinction he held from 1917. His remarkable career was marked by numerous milestones, including the performance of his music by the bands of John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
Born on November 4, 1889, in St. Thomas, Adams was the son of aspiring artisan parents. Despite the challenges he faced, Adams developed a passion for music and literature at an early age. He attended elementary school and later apprenticed to become a carpenter and then a shoemaker.
However, it was music that truly resonated with Adams. He learned to play the piccolo, an instrument he chose primarily because it was less expensive than a full-size flute, and joined the St. Thomas Municipal Band in 1906. Simultaneously, he studied music theory and composition through correspondence courses with Dr. Hugh A. Clark at the University of Pennsylvania.
In June 1910, Adams broke away from the Municipal Band to form his own ensemble, the Adams Juvenile Band. This bold move marked the beginning of a remarkable journey, as the band developed rapidly, becoming an integral part of the social fabric in the islands' capital city, Charlotte Amalie.
The Adams Juvenile Band played for a variety of social and charitable events, as well as regular concerts in the city's bandstand at Emancipation Garden, a location that remembers and celebrates Governor von Scholten's proclamation, which gave freedom to the slaves in 1848.
Adams' passion for reading and writing bore fruit as early as 1910, when he first contributed an article on the black composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor to The Dominant. In 1915, he became the music editor for D. Hamilton Jackson's St. Croix newspaper, The Herald. A year later, he became the band columnist for Boston's Jacobs Band Monthly.
Adams' music was performed by the bands of John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman, and his march, "The Governors Own," appears as the first selection on the bicentennial album "Pride of America," released by New World Records.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. left an indelible mark on American music, paving the way for future generations of musicians and composers. His remarkable career, marked by perseverance and dedication, serves as a testament to the power of music to transcend boundaries and inspire greatness.
Throughout his life, Adams was driven by a passion for music and a commitment to excellence. His remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the power of hard work and determination.
In conclusion, Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. was a true pioneer, whose remarkable career continues to inspire and influence American music to this day.
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