Henry James “Red” Allen was born on January 7 1908 in Algiers, Louisiana. An American jazz trumpeter, singer, composer, and bandleader, Allen was known for playing Dixieland, trad jazz, and modern swing. Allen's father was a trumpet player and he spent time playing drums, ukulele, violin before settling on the trumpet. His career began in 1924 playing with the Excelsior Brass Band and on riverboats along the Mississippi River before relocating to New York City in 1929. After three years spent with Luis Russell's Orchestra, Allen went on to join Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra in 1933 before joining Lucky Millinder's Mills Blue Rhythm Band from 1934 to 1937. He eventually rejoined the Luis Russell Orchestra in 1937 (now led by a young Louis Armstrong). Allen spent the 1940s as a bandleader playing with trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, clarinetist Edmond Hall, and pianist Kenny Kersey as well as recording with Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, and vocalists Victoria Spivey and Billie Holiday. Solo records, "Red Allen, Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden at Newport", was released in 1957 and "Mr. Allen" in 1962. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1966, "Red" Allen played a final tour of England before he died April 17th, 1967, in New York City.
