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Dave Adams

1938 – 2016

British musician and songwriter

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About Dave Adams

Lived 1938 – 2016 (aged 77). Dave Adams was a British songwriter.

David Malcolm Adams (27 November 193819 March 2016) was a British singer, keyboard player and songwriter.

Born in Jersey, Adams began working with Joe Meek in 1958 and continued to work with him until Meek's death in 1967. In the early 1960s, he helped build up Meek's studio. Adams recorded singles with Meek under various pseudonyms and wrote songs for him. Adams was part of the production of the hit single "Telstar" by The Tornados; a "second stage demo" of him playing the tune exists. He was also a member of Heinz Burt's backing band, The Wild Boys, along with Ritchie Blackmore. In his autobiography Adams also revealed that he had a love affair with Joe Meek.

Adams later lived in Buffalo, New York. His daughter, Dee Adams writes and performs music as a solo artist, with a country-rock band, Dee and the Housecats, and with a jazz band, The Funny Valentines.

Discography Sep 1958: Joy and David: "Whoopee!" (Adams) / "My Oh My" (Duke) – Parlophone R 4477 Feb 1959: Joy and David: "Rockin' Away The Blues" (Duke/Adams) / "If You Pass Me By" (Duke) – Decca F 11123 (also issued on 78) Mar 1960: Joy & Dave: "Let's Go See Gran'ma" (Adams) / "Believe Me" (Duke) – Triumph RGM 1002 Oct 1960: Joy & Dave: "My Very Good Friend the Milkman" (Spina/Burke) / "Doopey Darling" (Duke) – Decca F 11291 Dec 1961: Joy & Dave: "Joe's Been A-Gittin' There" (Wilkin/Martin) / "They Tell Us Not To Love" (Duke) – Parlophone R 4855 (demo copies contain an alternative, slower recording of the B-side). Jun 1963: Burr Bailey and The Six-Shooters: "San Francisco Bay" (Fuller) / Burr Bailey and The Fletchers: "Like A Bird Without Feathers" (Meek/Lawrence) – Decca F 11686 Feb 1964: Burr Bailey: "Chahawki" (Meek/Raymonde) / "You Made Me Cry" (Joe Meek) – Decca F 11846 The Silas Dooley Jr. L.P. (1998) (on The Dave Adams Story CD) (recorded in 1963 but remained unreleased until 1994/1998. The original working title for the LP was believed to be Naughty But Nice!).

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
David Malcolm Adams, Silas Dooley, Burr Bailey

People in Dave Adams's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Dave Adams's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Dave Adams?

British musician and songwriter

When was Dave Adams born?

Dave Adams was born on 27 November 1938 in Saint Helier.

When did Dave Adams die?

Dave Adams died on 19 March 2016 in Buffalo.

What was Dave Adams's occupation?

Dave Adams was a songwriter.

What nationality was Dave Adams?

Dave Adams was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Dave Adams

· Wikidata: Q5228208

· DBpedia: Dave Adams (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dave Adams. https://biography.guide/dave-adams-songwriter/

MLA: "Dave Adams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dave-adams-songwriter/.

Chicago: "Dave Adams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dave-adams-songwriter/.

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