Alton Adams
The first black bandmaster in the U.S. Navy, a composer from the Virgin Islands whose spirited marches were played by America's greatest bands.
1889–1987 (age 98)·American composer·Birthday: November 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Alton Adams turned the colonial rhythms of the Danish Virgin Islands into a distinctly American sound of triumph. A largely self-taught musician from St. Thomas, he became a leading cultural figure even before the islands were purchased by the United States. When the U.S. Navy established a base there in 1917, Adams was appointed the bandmaster for the Naval Battalion, breaking the military's color barrier. He composed vibrant marches like 'The Governor's Own' that captured both island pride and martial spirit. His work transcended the Navy; the famed bands of John Philip Sousa and Edwin Franko Goldman performed his compositions, bringing Caribbean-influenced classical music to mainland audiences. More than a composer, he was an educator and advocate, using music to assert the dignity and talent of his community on a national stage.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Alton was born in 1889, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1889
Alton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1889Born
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1894Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1902Became a teenager
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could drive
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could vote
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Turned 21
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 30
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 40
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 50
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 60
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 70
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 80
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1987Died at 98
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
Key Achievements
- Became the first black bandmaster in the United States Navy in 1917.
- Composed 'The Governor's Own' (1921), a march performed by John Philip Sousa's band.
- His music was featured on the bicentennial album 'Pride of America' released by New World Records.
Did You Know?
He was the editor of the St. Thomas *Bulletin*, one of the first black-owned newspapers in the Virgin Islands.
He led the effort to create a public school music program in the Virgin Islands.
After his naval service, he returned to St. Thomas and managed the island's radio station, WSTA.
“My band's sound was born from the sea winds and cobblestone streets.”
