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Steve Allen

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late-night television talk show.

Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his extensive network television career. He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted The Tonight Show, he went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including his own The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS's What's My Line? and, from 1977 until 1981, he wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format.

Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer. By his own estimate, he wrote more than 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition for "Gravy Waltz," for which he wrote the lyrics. He also wrote more than 50 books, including novels, children's books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio (2001).

In 1996, Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 26, 1921 (New York City), Died October 30, 2000 (Encino)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, vocalist, electric organ, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 161 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-4633 10-in. 5/18/1950 Cotton candy and a toy balloon Rosalie Allen ; Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Female-male vocal duet, with string band and sound effects songwriter  
Decca 83718 12/12/1952 Frenesi Steve Allen ; Eydie Gorme vocalist  
Decca 83719 12/12/1952 Love me not just a little Steve Allen ; Eydie Gorme vocalist  
Decca 83720 12/12/1952 All night long Steve Allen ; Eydie Gorme vocalist  
Decca 83721 12/12/1952 I danced with my darling Steve Allen ; Eydie Gorme vocalist  
Decca 84944 8/3/1953 Cinderella (Bebop's fable) Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 84945 8/3/1953 Goldilocks and the Three Bears Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 85107 8/25/1953 Hey, officer! Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85129 8/28/1953 But officer Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85130 8/28/1953 But baby Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85131 8/28/1953 Jack and the beanstalk Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85132 8/28/1953 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87246 1/4/1955 Stay just a little while Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87247 1/4/1955 Tonight Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87248 1/4/1955 The man with a horn Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87249 1/4/1955 Imagination Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87250 1/5/1955 Long ago (and far away) Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87251 1/5/1955 Isn't it romantic? Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87252 1/5/1955 For the very first time Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87253 1/5/1955 I fall in love too easily Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87258 1/6/1955 Where are you? Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 87259 1/6/1955 Candlelight Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 87260 1/6/1955 It can't be wrong Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 87261 1/6/1955 I'm glad there is you Steve Allen vocalist  
Decca 87408 2/1/1955 Very square dance Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 161 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Allen, Steve," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144.

Allen, Steve. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144.

"Allen, Steve." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144

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