Billy Adamson

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Billy Adamson
Birth nameWilliam Adamson
Born(1944-05-27)May 27, 1944
Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland
Died11 November 2013(2013-11-11) (aged 69)
France
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Drummer, percussionist
InstrumentsDrums, percussion
Years active1963–1998
Associated actsThe Searchers; Lulu & the Luvvers; Emile Ford & the Checkmates; Jet Harris; Junior Campbell; Screaming Lord Sutch; The Nashville Teens

Billy Adamson (May 27, 1944 - November 11, 2013) was a Scottish musician, best known as the longtime drummer and percussionist for the English pop rock band The Searchers. He joined them shortly after their most famous period in 1969 and remained with them until 1998. He also worked with Lulu, The Nashville Teens or Junior Campbell.

Early life[]

Born William Adamson on 27 May 1944 in Peebles, Scotland, and grew up in Glasgow. His band, the Bellrocks, had featured a talented young singer Marie Lawrie who was eventually to become a major star known by the name of Lulu. Adamson was even a member of Lulu & the Luvvers for some time. He also worked or recorded with Emile Ford & the Checkmates, Jet Harris, The Nashville Teens, P. P. Arnold, Screaming Lord Sutch, black American soul singer Sonny Child & the TNT, or The Clan (incl. Marmalade’s Junior Campbell or Cliff Bennett).[1][2] "Billy was a brilliant, stylish drummer of the old school who could read drum parts," said Junior Campbell about him.[3]

The Searchers Years[]

In 1969 he replaced John Blunt in The Searchers and became the longest serving drummer in the group. "We set up an audition at my house in Harlington and ran through a few numbers with the bespectacled, afro-coiffeured drummer in the small living room,” Frank Allen wrote. "After a bit of humming and haahing we decided to offer him the job."[4] Billy played on the last Searchers’ hit single "Desdemona" as well as the band's LP Second Take and some more singles sessions. In fact The Searchers were three partners at the time (Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen) and Billy Adamson was an employee of the band.[5] That means he played on all tours and shows, but in the seventies and the eighties he didn't recorded with the band, although Mike Pender and Frank Allen both admired his drumming skills and style in their autobiographies.[6] That was also the reason for his leaving of the band, he felt his position within the set-up should be different.[4] Nevertheless, he played with the band for thirty years.

Later Years and Death[]

Adamson made the decision to leave the Searchers in 1998, officially to spend more time with his family.[7] He died on 11 November 2013 in France, aged 69. The cause of his death has not been revealed.

References[]

  1. ^ Colin Escott, Second Take, The Complete RCA/UK Recordings (CD liner notes), Taragon Records , 1999.
  2. ^ "Bibliography". Drummer's Zone. Drummer's Zone. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  3. ^ "Tribute from Junior Campbell". www.mikependersearchers.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  4. ^ a b Frank Allen (2009). The Searchers And Me: A History of The Legendary Sixties Hitmakers. Aureus Publishing. ISBN 9781899750412.
  5. ^ Mike Pender (2014). The Search for Myself. Genuine Article Books. p. 151. ISBN 9780993121302.
  6. ^ Mike Pender (2014). The Search for Myself. Genuine Article Books. p. 129. ISBN 9780993121302.
  7. ^ "Passings: Billy Adamson". www. vintagevinylnews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
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