Red Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Red Allen
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Allen at the Onyx Club, New York City
c. May 1946 Photo: William P. Gottlieb |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry James Allen |
| Born | January 7, 1908 Algiers, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 17, 1967 (aged 59) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Years active | 1924–1967 |
| Associated acts | King Oliver, Clarence Williams, Luis Russell |
Henry James "Red" Allen, Jr. (born January 7, 1908 – died April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and singer. Many people, including music expert Joachim-Ernst Berendt, believe his trumpet playing was the first to fully use the new ideas of Louis Armstrong.
Who Was Red Allen?
Red Allen was born in Algiers, a neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Henry Allen Sr., was also a bandleader. Red learned to play the trumpet from teachers like Peter Bocage and Manuel Manetta.
Starting His Music Career
Red Allen started his music career with a group called Sidney Desvigne's Southern Syncopators. By 1924, he was playing professionally. He performed with the Excelsior Brass Band and jazz dance bands led by Sam Morgan, George Lewis, and John Casimir.
After playing on riverboats along the Mississippi River, he moved to Chicago in 1927. There, he joined King Oliver's band. During this time, he also made recordings with Clarence Williams's band.
Moving to New York City
Red Allen briefly returned to New Orleans, where he worked with bands led by Fate Marable and Fats Pichon. Soon after, he got a recording deal with Victor Records. This led him to move to New York City.
In New York, he joined the Luis Russell band. This band later became famous when Louis Armstrong led it in the late 1930s.
Playing with Famous Bands
In 1929, Allen became a featured soloist in Luis Russell's Orchestra until 1932. He also recorded with other famous musicians like Fats Waller and Tommy Dorsey. In 1931, he made recordings with Don Redman.
From 1933 to 1934, he played with Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra. He then joined Lucky Millinder's Mills Blue Rhythm Band from 1934 to 1937. After that, he went back to Luis Russell's orchestra, which was then led by Louis Armstrong. Even though he didn't get many solo parts on recordings with Armstrong, he was a big star in their live shows.
Recording His Own Music
As a bandleader, Red Allen recorded for Victor from 1929 to 1930. He also made recordings with Coleman Hawkins in 1933. His music was released on various labels.
From 1935 to 1937, he made popular swing records for Vocalion. He also recorded for Decca in 1940 and OKeh in 1941. After World War II, he continued to record for labels like Brunswick, Victor, and Apollo.
Leading His Own Band
Red Allen made many recordings under his own name. He also played with jazz legends like Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton. He even accompanied singers such as Victoria Spivey and Billie Holiday.
After a short time with Benny Goodman, Allen started his own band. They played at the Famous Door club in Manhattan. He then toured across the United States with his band until the late 1950s.
Later Years and Performances
In December 1957, Red Allen appeared on a TV show called Sound Of Jazz with Pee Wee Russell. In 1959, he toured Europe for the first time with Kid Ory's band.
From 1954, he led the house band at New York's Metropole Cafe. He stayed there until the club stopped featuring jazz music in 1965.
Red Allen's Music Style
Music experts like Joachim-Ernst Berendt have said that Red Allen's trumpet style was the first to fully use the new ideas from Louis Armstrong. Allen focused on how he shaped his musical phrases. His recordings were very popular and well-received.
Red Allen was known for being very flexible in his music. He won awards from DownBeat magazine in both traditional jazz and modern jazz categories. This shows how skilled and adaptable he was.
In 2022, the New Orleans City Council honored him by renaming "Slidell Street" in Algiers to "Red Allen Way."
Discography
- Red Allen, Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden at Newport (Verve, 1957)
- Ride, Red, Ride in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, 1957), later re released as World on a String (1991)
- Mr. Allen (Swingville, 1962)
- The College Concert with Pee Wee Russell (Impulse!, 1966)
- Jazz Standards and Warhorses, with Coleman Hawkins (Jass Records, CD version 1987)
- 1929–1933 (Chronological Classics 540, 1990)
With Langston Hughes
- Weary Blues (MGM, 1959)
Images for kids
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Allen at the Onyx Club, New York City, c. May 1946
See also
In Spanish: Red Allen para niños
