15 Facts About Red Allen

Red Allen took early trumpet lessons from Peter Bocage and Manuel Manetta.

Red Allen was playing professionally by 1924 with the Excelsior Brass Band and the jazz dance bands of Sam Morgan, George Lewis and John Casimir.

In 1929, Allen joined Luis Russell's Orchestra, in which he was a featured soloist until 1932.

Red Allen took part in recording sessions that year organized by Eddie Condon, some of which featured Fats Waller and Tommy Dorsey.

Red Allen made a series of recordings in late 1931 with Don Redman.

Red Allen played with Lucky Millinder's Mills Blue Rhythm Band from 1934 to 1937, when he returned to Russell for three more years, by which time Russell's orchestra was fronted by Louis Armstrong.

Red Allen did a solitary session for Decca in 1940 and two sessions for OKeh in 1941.

Red Allen continued making many recordings under his own name and with Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton and accompanied such vocalists as Victoria Spivey and Billie Holiday.

Red Allen then toured with the band around the United States into the late 1950s.

In December 1957, Allen appeared with Pee Wee Russell on the television program Sound Of Jazz.

Red Allen led the house band at New York's Metropole Cafe from 1954, until the club ceased its jazz policy in 1965.

Red Allen returned to working under his own name and made numerous tours of the United States and Europe.

Red Allen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 1966.

Red Allen is buried, in the newer section of Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, in grave 52 of section 15.

Red Allen's versatility is shown by his winning of DownBeat awards in both the traditional jazz and the modern jazz categories.