Henry “Red” Allen Jr., a Trumpet player, was the son Henry Allen, who was the leader and founder of the Allen Brass Band in Algiers, Louisiana. Algiers, which is just across the Mississippi River to New Orleans, is also known as Algiers. He was a teenager and played in his father’s band with George Lewis, Excelsior Band, and the Sam Morgan Band. He left New Orleans in 1926 to join Sidney Desvigne and his Southern Syncopaters, who were based on the riverboat Island Queen that ran between St. Louis u0026 Cincinnati. He joined King Oliver’s Dixie Syncopators on a St. Louis tour in 1927. Oliver didn’t like the tour and the band fell apart in New York. However, Red recorded his first recordings with Clarence Williams. Allen returned to New Orleans, where he played with Fats Picchon. He then joined Fate Marable aboard the Strekfus riverboat Capitol, where he would stay until 1928. He returned to New York after being offered a Victor recording deal and jobs by Luis Russell and Duke Ellington. In 1929, he made several recordings for Victor under his own name, and then he joined Luis Russell’s Orchestra. He stayed with them until 1933. After he was done with Victor, he joined the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra as Rex Stewart’s featured soloist. Allen recorded several recordings during this period with Coleman Hawkins. He also sang and played the trumpet. He joined Mills Blue Rhythm Band in 1934. In 1937, he left to join Luis Russell’s band, which was led by Louis Armstrong. He continued to be with them until 1940, when he started leading small groups in New York nightclubs. He recorded his own records and toured with Billie Holiday and other artists throughout the 1940s. Red continued to record with Coleman Hawkins, George Lewis and Kid Ory in the 1950s and 1960s. Red continued to play until his death from pancreatic cancer in 1966. from http://www.redhotjazz.com/
