Sam Allen

Sam Allen (January 30, 1909 – April 1963) was an American jazz pianist.

Allen accompanied silent films in movie palaces from the age of ten. In 1928 he moved to New York City, where he joined Herbert Cowans's band at the Rockland Palace. Before long he moved back to Ohio, where he played with Alex Jackson in 1930. Soon after this Allen joined James P. Johnson's orchestra as the second pianist, and followed this with an extended run in Teddy Hill's band, which occupied him for most of the 1930s and included tours of Europe.

Early in the 1940s Allen worked with Stuff Smith before becoming the pianist for Slim & Slam, the gig for which he was best known. He also played with Dizzy Gillespie in the 1940s. Around the end of the decade Allen moved to Washington and worked locally as a solo pianist for a time, then relocated to Oakland, California, where he played with Billie Heywood, Eddie Alley, John Handy Ike Bell and others.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 30, 1909 (Middleport), Died September 1, 1963 (Oakland)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1944

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-06462 10-in. 3/26/1937 The love bug will bite you (if you don't watch out) Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-06463 10-in. 3/26/1937 Would you like to buy a dream? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-06464 10-in. 3/26/1937 Big Boy Blue Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-06465 10-in. 3/26/1937 Where is the sun? Beatrice Douglas ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-06466 10-in. 3/26/1937 The Harlem twister Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-06467 10-in. 3/26/1937 My Marie Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07925 10-in. 4/23/1937 I know now Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07926 10-in. 4/23/1937 The lady who couldn't be kissed Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07927 10-in. 4/23/1937 (Have you forgotten) The you and me that used to be Bill Dillard ; Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07928 10-in. 4/23/1937 A study in brown Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07929 10-in. 4/23/1937 Twilight in Turkey Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-07930 10-in. 4/23/1937 China boy Teddy Hill NBC Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gramophone 0LA1894 10-in. 7/12/1937 I've found a new baby Dicky Wells Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Gramophone 0LA1899 10-in. 7/12/1937 Dicky Wells blues Sam Allen ; Bill Beason ; Roger Chaput ; Dicky Wells Trombone solo, with piano, guitar, and drums instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39693 10-in. 7/10/1935 If the moon turns green Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39694 10-in. 7/10/1935 Lulu's back in tovm Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39723 10-in. 7/18/1935 In a little gypsy tea room Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39724 10-in. 7/18/1935 I never saw a better night Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39725 10-in. 7/19/1935 Lost my rhythm, lost my music, lost my man Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 39726 10-in. 7/19/1935 I'm painting the town red Bob Howard Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 72297 10-in. 6/26/1944 I can't get started Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 72298 10-in. 6/26/1944 After you've gone Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 72299 10-in. 6/26/1944 Body and soul Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Allen, Sam," accessed June 10, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110381.

Allen, Sam. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 10, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110381.

"Allen, Sam." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 10 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110381

External Sources

Wikipedia: Sam Allen (musician)

Discogs: Sam Allen

Allmusic: Sam Allen

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Allen, Sam, 1909-1963 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no96059366

Wikidata: Sam Allen (musician) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3470445

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/42028535

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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