Dick Adamson

American musician (trumpet, saxophone & clarinet) and bandleader from San Francisco who played in Singapore at the Adelphi & Sea View Hotels (1930–1932) and the Tanglin Club (1930–1931). In September 1930 he added Johnnie Bulmer, “the Singing Drummer,” from San Francisco to his band.

During this period he also spent a few months in Shanghai leading a band at the Palais Café. He returned to Singapore in February, 1932 and in June 1932 he jointly directed a new band with the violinist, Mr. Paul Strauss. All members of the new band except Adamson came to Singapore from Shanghai. “The new orchestra, which comprises nine members, arrived in Singapore by the S.S. Gange from Shanghai and will make their debut on June 30.” [Singapore Free Press, June 23, 1932, 2] “There will be two separate leaders. Mr. Paul Strauss, a well-known violinist from Shanghai, directing the concerts while Mr. Dick Adamson will be in charge of the dance music.” [The Straits Times, June 28, 1932, 12]

He left Singapore for Hong Kong in late 1932. In October 1932 he was given a six-month contract to lead a six-piece orchestra at the Gloucester Building ballroom starting in November of that year. However, the contract contained a clause which allowed either side to cancel the contract on one month’s notice, which meant that in effect it was a 30-day contract with a six-month maximum extent. Due to conflict with the management the contract was cancelled, effective in early 1933. Subsequently, Adamson began legal action in the Hong Kong Supreme Court for defamation and slander claiming damages of $1,000. The case was heard in June 1933, and, although Adamson won, he was only awarded damages of $1. The Judge said that “the plaintiff is within his strict legal rights in bringing this action, but it is an action which should never have been brought.” [The Straits Times, June 23, 1933, 12]

Due to Adamson’s previous connections with Singapore, the case received detailed coverage in the local press, and the evidence given provides some very interesting details concerning the life of a bandleader in early 1930s Hong Kong.

Other Information

[The Straits Times, June 9, 1933, 19] – DICK ADAMSON’S SUIT FOR SLANDER – Former Singapore Band Leader – Cutting criticisms of a dance band leader’s playing were alleged to have been made by Mr. Percy Ingham Newman, manager of the Gloucester Building, in a slander action for $1,000 and costs which opened before Puisne Judge, Mr. R.E. Lindsell, at the Supreme Court, Hong Kong, on June 1.

The plaintiff is Mr. Frank Lewiston Adamson, better known as Dick Adamson, formerly of Singapore and lately leader of the Gloucester Building dance orchestra. His solicitor, after an offer in open court to settle the case with apologies, and withdrawals had been turned down, made various allegations of the conditions that existed at the dance hall controlled by the defendant.

Mr. M.A. da Silva appeared for plaintiff, and the defendant was represented by Mr. W.A. Mackinlay says the South China Morning Post. The statement of claim sets out that plaintiff is a musical director and a player of the saxophone, clarinet and trumpet carrying on business in Hong Kong; and that defendant is the manager of the Gloucester Building (Residential).

On Jan. 31, 1933, defendant falsely and maliciously wrote to the plaintiff and published to a Mrs. M.M. Drake of the plaintiff and of him in the way of his business in the following words: “With reference to your orchestra, you surely must have realised that their performance has been anything but satisfactory to date either to the management or to the guests. Numerous complaints have been received from time to time both from European and Chinese patrons to the effect that they find it impossible to dance to the time and tunes being rendered at present. In many instances these complaints have been mentioned to you but to all appearances no effort has been made on your part to rectify these very obvious faults and it is I’m possible to continue along these lines. Instead of the orchestra being an added attraction to the Gloucester it is driving customers away, at the same time being a very heavy expense. Had you held daily practices and had an up-to-date repertoire some degree of efficiency might have been attained, but the same old tunes being played repeatedly simply drive all music-lovers away. We exceedingly regret having to take this step which we feel might easily have been avoided had we had your entire co-operation with a view to making the venture a complete success.”

On Feb. 23, defendant falsely and maliciously, the statement alleges, spoke and published of the plaintiff the words: “The band is no b—good and I am fed up to the teeth with them and am getting rid of them. There is Adamson —you know him — that trumpet he is playing is the cause of the whole thing. It kills the band and the orchestra is driving my crowd away in lieu of attracting them. I have received more complaints about hat trumpet than anything in the whole building.” The statement also alleges that the words were published in the Gloucester Building and spoken in the hearing of a person named William Lawson Butts, and that defendant meant by the above words that plaintiff was an incompetent musician and not fit to be employed as a musical director or as a trumpet player and that by reason of such incompetence the Gloucester Building was losing customers. In consequence of the alleged words had greatly injured his credit and reputation and in his business, and claimed $1,000 damages and costs.

Mr. Silva, opening the case, said that the reputation of the plaintiff in his chosen profession of music was no less precious to him than his limbs, health and liberty, for the reason that he started his musical studies at these of six. From an early age he established a reputation as a musician from San Francisco to Sacramento and across the Pacific from Shanghai to Singapore. When that reputation was defamed he sought restitution; he did not want damages in the pecuniary sense but a complete withdrawal of the allegations. Mr. Adamson was a leader and director of a dance and concert band and himself played various instruments, including the cornet and trumpet. He came to Hong Kong last year. In October a verbal agreement was made between plaintiff and defendant that the former should get together an orchestra of six, including himself, which should be employed at Gloucester Buildings for $1,400 per month. Plaintiff and wife were to be given free accommodation at the Building and the other members of the band were to receive dinners during working hours. The band was to perform at tea dances and dinner dances, and Mr. Adamson was given the option of obtaining outside work for his men providing that it did not interfere with the Gloucester Building engagement.

The first of several incidents which showed the strained relations between Mr. Newman and Mr. Adamson occurred after only a few days at the Gloucester Building. The latter had occasion to ask defendant for a changing room for the use of his boys. They were told to use the laundry room which was small, damp, and very hot, and later it was arranged that they should use one of the clerk’s rooms. Mr. Gladstone, the sub-manager, however, offered plaintiff the facility of his room and on learning this, the defendant said: “Why did you do that? Let him find his own room.” Plaintiff also protested, in the presence of Mr. Gladstone, because the band was not supplied with meals and defendant replied: “We must save money for the hotel.” Mr. Adamson reminded him that the verbal agreement was that dinners should be given, and to this defendant eventually agreed. After the first of these dinners, however, the menu was removed and they had to eat the food which was “chucked in front of them.” Mr. Adamson made another complaint to defendant, and as a result a “special” menu was arranged.

TRUMPET PLAYER’S SLANDER SUIT – Former Singapore Band Leader – Making an order as to costs and awarding $1 damages Mr. Justice Lindsell gave judgement in Hong Kong on June 14 for Mr. Dick Adamson, the band leader who was formerly in Singapore, in his case for slander against Mr. Percy Newman, manager of the Gloucester Building, Hong Kong. Of the two causes of action, one had been ruled out by His Lordship and the case on June 14 was based on a conversation between Mr. Newman and Mr. William Lawson Butts on Feb. 23 where the former is alleged to have said: “The band is no b—good and I am fed up to the teeth with them and getting rid of them. There is Adamson – you know him – that trumpet he is playing is the cause of the whole thing. It kills the band and the orchestra is driving my crowd away in lieu of attracting them. I have received more complaints about that trumpet than anything in the whole building.” … “In my opinion, the plaintiff is within his strict legal rights in bringing this action, but it is an action which should never have been brought. I give judgement for plaintiff for $1 damages, and make no order as to costs.” [The Straits Times, June 23, 1933, 12]