People, Locations, Episodes

“Red” Allen, Jazz Musician born

Red Allen

*Red Allen was born on this date in 1908. He was a Black Trumpet player and singer.

Henry "Red" Allen Jr. was the only child of Henry and Juretta Allen. The Elder Allen was the leader of the Allen Brass Band of Algiers, Louisiana, found directly across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. As a teenager, he played in his father's band with George Lewis, the Excelsior Band, and the Sam Morgan Band. In 1926, he left New Orleans to play with Sidney Desvigne's Southern Syncopaters on the riverboat Island Queen between St. Louis and Cincinnati.

In 1927, he toured with King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators; the work didn't go well for Oliver. The band broke up in New York, although Allen made his first recordings during that time with Clarence Williams. Allen returned to New Orleans, played with Fats Pichon, and joined Fatte Marable on the Strekfus riverboat Capitol until 1928. After a contract offer from Victor Records and jobs by Duke Ellington and Luis Russell, he returned to New York. The following year, he made several recordings under his name for Victor until 1933. He joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, replacing Rex Stewart as the group's featured soloist. During this period, Allen made several popular recordings with Coleman Hawkins, where he sang and played trumpet.

Starting in 1934, he joined Mills Blue Rhythm Band and left in 1937 to rejoin Luis Russell's band, which Louis Armstrong fronted at that time. He stayed with them until 1940 when he began leading small groups in New York nightclubs and played on records by Jelly Roll Morton and Sidney Bechet. He continued to record his records and tour with Billie Holiday and others throughout the 1940s. In the 1950s and 1960s, Allen remained active in recording with his old friends George Lewis, Coleman Hawkins, and Kid Ory. Red continued playing up until his death on April 17, 1967, from pancreatic cancer.

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