ADAMS, ALTON AUGUSTUS, SR.
Musician, Composer, Educator, Entrepreneur.
St. Thomas.
1889 - 1987
The life of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., has been described by his contemporaries as an "era" of its own. A self-educated man, he charted his own life as a distinguished bandmaster, composer, musician, journalist, educator, and hotelier.
The son of Jacob Henry and Petrina Dinzey Adams, Alton was born on November 4, 1889, during the Danish owner ship of St. Thomas. He received his early education at the Moravian Town School. An avid reader, he read all printed materials available to him including the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
As a young boy, he showed a fascination with music and learned to play the flageolet, a gift from his grandmother in Copenhagen. He later mastered the flute, which became his favorite instrument. Convinced that music was his major interest, he decided to pursue a music education program and enrolled in correspondence courses in harmony and counterpoint offered by the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the School of Music Theory, Carnegie Hall, New York, and the Chicago University Extension Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois by correspondence. From the latter he received a bachelor's degree with emphasis on music history, esthetics, and public school music. During these studies, he was greatly influ enced by the noted organist and composer Hugh A. Clarke.
At age fourteen, Adams organized his own band and when he was twenty-one founded the Adams Juvenile Band. This group made history years later when, under President Woodrow Wilson, it was inducted into the United States Navy with bandmaster Alton Adams as its leader. It was the first Black unit in the U.S. Navy and served both as liaison between Virgin Islanders and officers of the new Naval Administration, and as goodwill ambassadors for the Virgin Islands and the United States. Alton Adams became the first Black to wear the chevrons of a U.S. naval bandmaster.
As a composer, he is best remembered for his 1912 "Diox 'rev d'armour," "Virgin Islands March," "Governors Own" and "The Spirit of the U.S. Navy." "The Virgin Islands March," originally written for Captain William R. White of the U.S. Navy on November 10,1919, was later arranged with lyrics from public contributions and adopted as the Virgin Islands Anthem by the Virgin Islands Legislature in June 1982.
As a bandmaster, Adams was the guest artist of Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman and his son Richard, and conducted their bands on various occasions. The Goldman Band is comprised of master musicians of various symphony orchestras. Additionally, he received numerous letters and certificates of commendation from bandmasters and musical organizations in the United States.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been included on The Pride of A1nerica, the first album in the American Bicentennial celebration series on American music. The series also includes marches by John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
Even though Adams did not enjoy the privileges of free education, he recognized the importance of a well-rounded education and the place of music in the curriculum. In 1918 he designed a music curriculum and presented it to the public school system. He was appointed the first music supervisor of St. Thomas (1918-1921). He later incorporated this earlier document into a revised course of study for elementary grades. Entitled "Course of Study for the Elementary Grades of the Virgin Islands of the U.S.A.," (1922), it was adopted as a formal tool in music education.
Although not trained as a teacher, Mr. Adams placed teaching in high esteem. In 1985, upon his presentation of the manuscripts, chorus and piano arrangements of his "Virgin Islands March" to the Music Department of the University of the Virgin Islands, he remarked that "the noblest and highest thing a person can be is a teacher."
As a hotelier, he turned his eighteenth century home into a guest house. He was a member of the V.I. Hotel Association and served as its energetic chairman for six years (1952-1958). In recognition of his contribution to the hotel industry, the St. Thomas St. John Hotel Association annually awards the "Alton A. Adams Scholarship" to a deserving resident. Adams also hosted a radio program, "Concert Hall," on which he entertained listeners with classical music.
On May 7, 1978, Adams, almost ninety years old, travelled to Fisk University to accept an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He also received the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor from the Sixteenth Legislature in 1983. In addition, he has been mentioned in numerous biographical references, such as Who's Who in Colored America, 1922; Dictionary of Caribbean Biography, Personalities, 1968; Who's Who in the South and Southwest; and Who's Who in Commerce and Industry.
In 1917, he married the former Ella Joseph and they had seven children--Alton, Jr., Gwendolyn, Enid Adams Questel, Olive Adams Finch, Althea, Eleanor Adams Martin, alld Hazel Adams.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., died on November 23, 1987, in St. Thomas and is buried in the Western Cemetery.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been
Musician, Composer, Educator, Entrepreneur.
St. Thomas.
1889 - 1987
The life of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., has been described by his contemporaries as an "era" of its own. A self-educated man, he charted his own life as a distinguished bandmaster, composer, musician, journalist, educator, and hotelier.
The son of Jacob Henry and Petrina Dinzey Adams, Alton was born on November 4, 1889, during the Danish owner ship of St. Thomas. He received his early education at the Moravian Town School. An avid reader, he read all printed materials available to him including the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
As a young boy, he showed a fascination with music and learned to play the flageolet, a gift from his grandmother in Copenhagen. He later mastered the flute, which became his favorite instrument. Convinced that music was his major interest, he decided to pursue a music education program and enrolled in correspondence courses in harmony and counterpoint offered by the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the School of Music Theory, Carnegie Hall, New York, and the Chicago University Extension Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois by correspondence. From the latter he received a bachelor's degree with emphasis on music history, esthetics, and public school music. During these studies, he was greatly influ enced by the noted organist and composer Hugh A. Clarke.
At age fourteen, Adams organized his own band and when he was twenty-one founded the Adams Juvenile Band. This group made history years later when, under President Woodrow Wilson, it was inducted into the United States Navy with bandmaster Alton Adams as its leader. It was the first Black unit in the U.S. Navy and served both as liaison between Virgin Islanders and officers of the new Naval Administration, and as goodwill ambassadors for the Virgin Islands and the United States. Alton Adams became the first Black to wear the chevrons of a U.S. naval bandmaster.
As a composer, he is best remembered for his 1912 "Diox 'rev d'armour," "Virgin Islands March," "Governors Own" and "The Spirit of the U.S. Navy." "The Virgin Islands March," originally written for Captain William R. White of the U.S. Navy on November 10,1919, was later arranged with lyrics from public contributions and adopted as the Virgin Islands Anthem by the Virgin Islands Legislature in June 1982.
As a bandmaster, Adams was the guest artist of Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman and his son Richard, and conducted their bands on various occasions. The Goldman Band is comprised of master musicians of various symphony orchestras. Additionally, he received numerous letters and certificates of commendation from bandmasters and musical organizations in the United States.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been included on The Pride of A1nerica, the first album in the American Bicentennial celebration series on American music. The series also includes marches by John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
Even though Adams did not enjoy the privileges of free education, he recognized the importance of a well-rounded education and the place of music in the curriculum. In 1918 he designed a music curriculum and presented it to the public school system. He was appointed the first music supervisor of St. Thomas (1918-1921). He later incorporated this earlier document into a revised course of study for elementary grades. Entitled "Course of Study for the Elementary Grades of the Virgin Islands of the U.S.A.," (1922), it was adopted as a formal tool in music education.
Although not trained as a teacher, Mr. Adams placed teaching in high esteem. In 1985, upon his presentation of the manuscripts, chorus and piano arrangements of his "Virgin Islands March" to the Music Department of the University of the Virgin Islands, he remarked that "the noblest and highest thing a person can be is a teacher."
As a hotelier, he turned his eighteenth century home into a guest house. He was a member of the V.I. Hotel Association and served as its energetic chairman for six years (1952-1958). In recognition of his contribution to the hotel industry, the St. Thomas St. John Hotel Association annually awards the "Alton A. Adams Scholarship" to a deserving resident. Adams also hosted a radio program, "Concert Hall," on which he entertained listeners with classical music.
On May 7, 1978, Adams, almost ninety years old, travelled to Fisk University to accept an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He also received the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor from the Sixteenth Legislature in 1983. In addition, he has been mentioned in numerous biographical references, such as Who's Who in Colored America, 1922; Dictionary of Caribbean Biography, Personalities, 1968; Who's Who in the South and Southwest; and Who's Who in Commerce and Industry.
In 1917, he married the former Ella Joseph and they had seven children--Alton, Jr., Gwendolyn, Enid Adams Questel, Olive Adams Finch, Althea, Eleanor Adams Martin, alld Hazel Adams.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., died on November 23, 1987, in St. Thomas and is buried in the Western Cemetery.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been
ADAMS, ALTON AUGUSTUS, SR.
Musician, Composer, Educator, Entrepreneur.
St. Thomas.
1889 - 1987
The life of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., has been described by his contemporaries as an "era" of its own. A self-educated man, he charted his own life as a distinguished bandmaster, composer, musician, journalist, educator, and hotelier.
The son of Jacob Henry and Petrina Dinzey Adams, Alton was born on November 4, 1889, during the Danish owner ship of St. Thomas. He received his early education at the Moravian Town School. An avid reader, he read all printed materials available to him including the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
As a young boy, he showed a fascination with music and learned to play the flageolet, a gift from his grandmother in Copenhagen. He later mastered the flute, which became his favorite instrument. Convinced that music was his major interest, he decided to pursue a music education program and enrolled in correspondence courses in harmony and counterpoint offered by the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the School of Music Theory, Carnegie Hall, New York, and the Chicago University Extension Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois by correspondence. From the latter he received a bachelor's degree with emphasis on music history, esthetics, and public school music. During these studies, he was greatly influ enced by the noted organist and composer Hugh A. Clarke.
At age fourteen, Adams organized his own band and when he was twenty-one founded the Adams Juvenile Band. This group made history years later when, under President Woodrow Wilson, it was inducted into the United States Navy with bandmaster Alton Adams as its leader. It was the first Black unit in the U.S. Navy and served both as liaison between Virgin Islanders and officers of the new Naval Administration, and as goodwill ambassadors for the Virgin Islands and the United States. Alton Adams became the first Black to wear the chevrons of a U.S. naval bandmaster.
As a composer, he is best remembered for his 1912 "Diox 'rev d'armour," "Virgin Islands March," "Governors Own" and "The Spirit of the U.S. Navy." "The Virgin Islands March," originally written for Captain William R. White of the U.S. Navy on November 10,1919, was later arranged with lyrics from public contributions and adopted as the Virgin Islands Anthem by the Virgin Islands Legislature in June 1982.
As a bandmaster, Adams was the guest artist of Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman and his son Richard, and conducted their bands on various occasions. The Goldman Band is comprised of master musicians of various symphony orchestras. Additionally, he received numerous letters and certificates of commendation from bandmasters and musical organizations in the United States.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been included on The Pride of A1nerica, the first album in the American Bicentennial celebration series on American music. The series also includes marches by John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
Even though Adams did not enjoy the privileges of free education, he recognized the importance of a well-rounded education and the place of music in the curriculum. In 1918 he designed a music curriculum and presented it to the public school system. He was appointed the first music supervisor of St. Thomas (1918-1921). He later incorporated this earlier document into a revised course of study for elementary grades. Entitled "Course of Study for the Elementary Grades of the Virgin Islands of the U.S.A.," (1922), it was adopted as a formal tool in music education.
Although not trained as a teacher, Mr. Adams placed teaching in high esteem. In 1985, upon his presentation of the manuscripts, chorus and piano arrangements of his "Virgin Islands March" to the Music Department of the University of the Virgin Islands, he remarked that "the noblest and highest thing a person can be is a teacher."
As a hotelier, he turned his eighteenth century home into a guest house. He was a member of the V.I. Hotel Association and served as its energetic chairman for six years (1952-1958). In recognition of his contribution to the hotel industry, the St. Thomas St. John Hotel Association annually awards the "Alton A. Adams Scholarship" to a deserving resident. Adams also hosted a radio program, "Concert Hall," on which he entertained listeners with classical music.
On May 7, 1978, Adams, almost ninety years old, travelled to Fisk University to accept an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He also received the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor from the Sixteenth Legislature in 1983. In addition, he has been mentioned in numerous biographical references, such as Who's Who in Colored America, 1922; Dictionary of Caribbean Biography, Personalities, 1968; Who's Who in the South and Southwest; and Who's Who in Commerce and Industry.
In 1917, he married the former Ella Joseph and they had seven children--Alton, Jr., Gwendolyn, Enid Adams Questel, Olive Adams Finch, Althea, Eleanor Adams Martin, alld Hazel Adams.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., died on November 23, 1987, in St. Thomas and is buried in the Western Cemetery.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been
Musician, Composer, Educator, Entrepreneur.
St. Thomas.
1889 - 1987
The life of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., has been described by his contemporaries as an "era" of its own. A self-educated man, he charted his own life as a distinguished bandmaster, composer, musician, journalist, educator, and hotelier.
The son of Jacob Henry and Petrina Dinzey Adams, Alton was born on November 4, 1889, during the Danish owner ship of St. Thomas. He received his early education at the Moravian Town School. An avid reader, he read all printed materials available to him including the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
As a young boy, he showed a fascination with music and learned to play the flageolet, a gift from his grandmother in Copenhagen. He later mastered the flute, which became his favorite instrument. Convinced that music was his major interest, he decided to pursue a music education program and enrolled in correspondence courses in harmony and counterpoint offered by the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at the School of Music Theory, Carnegie Hall, New York, and the Chicago University Extension Conservatory, Chicago, Illinois by correspondence. From the latter he received a bachelor's degree with emphasis on music history, esthetics, and public school music. During these studies, he was greatly influ enced by the noted organist and composer Hugh A. Clarke.
At age fourteen, Adams organized his own band and when he was twenty-one founded the Adams Juvenile Band. This group made history years later when, under President Woodrow Wilson, it was inducted into the United States Navy with bandmaster Alton Adams as its leader. It was the first Black unit in the U.S. Navy and served both as liaison between Virgin Islanders and officers of the new Naval Administration, and as goodwill ambassadors for the Virgin Islands and the United States. Alton Adams became the first Black to wear the chevrons of a U.S. naval bandmaster.
As a composer, he is best remembered for his 1912 "Diox 'rev d'armour," "Virgin Islands March," "Governors Own" and "The Spirit of the U.S. Navy." "The Virgin Islands March," originally written for Captain William R. White of the U.S. Navy on November 10,1919, was later arranged with lyrics from public contributions and adopted as the Virgin Islands Anthem by the Virgin Islands Legislature in June 1982.
As a bandmaster, Adams was the guest artist of Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman and his son Richard, and conducted their bands on various occasions. The Goldman Band is comprised of master musicians of various symphony orchestras. Additionally, he received numerous letters and certificates of commendation from bandmasters and musical organizations in the United States.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been included on The Pride of A1nerica, the first album in the American Bicentennial celebration series on American music. The series also includes marches by John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman.
Even though Adams did not enjoy the privileges of free education, he recognized the importance of a well-rounded education and the place of music in the curriculum. In 1918 he designed a music curriculum and presented it to the public school system. He was appointed the first music supervisor of St. Thomas (1918-1921). He later incorporated this earlier document into a revised course of study for elementary grades. Entitled "Course of Study for the Elementary Grades of the Virgin Islands of the U.S.A.," (1922), it was adopted as a formal tool in music education.
Although not trained as a teacher, Mr. Adams placed teaching in high esteem. In 1985, upon his presentation of the manuscripts, chorus and piano arrangements of his "Virgin Islands March" to the Music Department of the University of the Virgin Islands, he remarked that "the noblest and highest thing a person can be is a teacher."
As a hotelier, he turned his eighteenth century home into a guest house. He was a member of the V.I. Hotel Association and served as its energetic chairman for six years (1952-1958). In recognition of his contribution to the hotel industry, the St. Thomas St. John Hotel Association annually awards the "Alton A. Adams Scholarship" to a deserving resident. Adams also hosted a radio program, "Concert Hall," on which he entertained listeners with classical music.
On May 7, 1978, Adams, almost ninety years old, travelled to Fisk University to accept an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He also received the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor from the Sixteenth Legislature in 1983. In addition, he has been mentioned in numerous biographical references, such as Who's Who in Colored America, 1922; Dictionary of Caribbean Biography, Personalities, 1968; Who's Who in the South and Southwest; and Who's Who in Commerce and Industry.
In 1917, he married the former Ella Joseph and they had seven children--Alton, Jr., Gwendolyn, Enid Adams Questel, Olive Adams Finch, Althea, Eleanor Adams Martin, alld Hazel Adams.
Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., died on November 23, 1987, in St. Thomas and is buried in the Western Cemetery.
Adams is featured in Frank Seltzer's Galaxy of Famous Bandmasters in Brief. His march, "Governors Own," written for Naval Governor Joseph W. Oman, has been
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