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[[File:Lee Allen.jpg|thumb|right|Allen in 1980]]
[[File:Lee Allen.jpg|thumb|right|Allen in 1980]]


'''Lee Francis Allen'''<ref name="bare">{{cite book| first1= Bob| last1= Eagle| first2= Eric S.| last2= LeBlanc| year= 2013| title= Blues: A Regional Experience| publisher= Praeger | location= Santa Barbara, California| pages=354 | isbn= 978-0313344237}}</ref> (July 2, 1927 – October 18, 1994) was an American [[tenor saxophone]] player. Allen's distinctive tone has been hailed as "one of the defining sounds of rock 'n' roll" and "one of the DNA strands of rock."<ref name="offbeat">{{cite news |url=http://www.offbeat.com/articles/masters-of-louisiana-music-lee-allen/ |author=Kunian, Dave |title=Masters Of Louisiana Music: Lee Allen |work=Offbeat |date=December 1, 2000}}</ref>
'''Lee Francis Allen'''<ref name="bare">{{cite book| first1= Bob| last1= Eagle| first2= Eric S.| last2= LeBlanc| year= 2013| title= Blues: A Regional Experience| publisher= Praeger | location= Santa Barbara, California| pages=354 | isbn= 978-0313344237}}</ref> (July 2, 1927 – October 18, 1994) was an American [[tenor saxophone]] player. [[Phil Alvin]], Allen's bandmate in [[The Blasters]], called him one of the most important instrumentalists in rock'n'roll."<ref name="billboard">{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22lee+allen%22+%22chris+morris%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwigvrGtvdXkAhXlPn0KHavvBgoQ6AEwAHoECAEQAg#v=onepage&q=%22lee%20allen%22%20%22chris%20morris%22&f=false |author=Morris, Chris |title=Allen Remembered as Top Rock'n'Roll Saxophonist |work=Billboard |date=November 5, 1994}}</ref> Allen's distinctive tone has been hailed as "one of the defining sounds of rock'n'roll" and "one of the DNA strands of rock."<ref name="offbeat">{{cite news |url=http://www.offbeat.com/articles/masters-of-louisiana-music-lee-allen/ |author=Kunian, Dave |title=Masters Of Louisiana Music: Lee Allen |work=Offbeat |date=December 1, 2000}}</ref>


Allen was a key figure in [[New Orleans]] rock and roll of the 1950s and recorded with many leading performers of the early [[rock and roll]] era. He was semiretired from music by the late 1960s, but in the late 1970s returned to performing intermittently until the end of his life.
Allen was a key figure in [[New Orleans]] rock and roll of the 1950s and recorded with many leading performers of the early [[rock and roll]] era. He was semiretired from music by the late 1960s, but in the late 1970s returned to performing intermittently until the end of his life.
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His own [[instrumental rock|instrumental]], "Walkin' with Mr. Lee", released by [[Ember Records (US label)|Ember Records]], was a minor hit in 1958, partly because it was frequently played on the television program ''[[American Bandstand]]''. This and Allen's subsequent singles are collected on the album also called "Walkin' with Mr. Lee".<ref name="offbeat"/>
His own [[instrumental rock|instrumental]], "Walkin' with Mr. Lee", released by [[Ember Records (US label)|Ember Records]], was a minor hit in 1958, partly because it was frequently played on the television program ''[[American Bandstand]]''. This and Allen's subsequent singles are collected on the album also called "Walkin' with Mr. Lee".<ref name="offbeat"/>


By the mid-1960s, Allen saw the city of New Orleans no longer the recording mecca it was for almost a decade. So he soon followed Earl Palmer's lead and moved to southern California in 1965, performing only occasionally on tours with Fats Domino. He found work at an aircraft manufacturing plant by day and also fell easily into the thriving R & B scene by night.<ref name="offbeat"/>
By the mid-1960s, Allen saw the city of New Orleans no longer the recording mecca it was for almost a decade. So he soon followed Earl Palmer's lead and moved to southern California in 1965, performing only occasionally on tours with Fats Domino. He found work at an aircraft manufacturing plant by day and also fell easily into the thriving R & B scene by night.<ref name="offbeat"/> He formed an organ trio and peffomed with his close friends [[T-Bone Walker]] and [[Big Joe Turner]]<ref ="billboard"/>


After the [[rockabilly]] revival got going in the late 1970s, younger musicians sought Allen's distinctive saxophone. He recorded with the [[Stray Cats]] on their second album, ''Gonna Ball'' (1981).
After the [[rockabilly]] revival got going in the late 1970s, younger musicians sought Allen's distinctive saxophone. He recorded with the [[Stray Cats]] on their second album, ''Gonna Ball'' (1981).


Allen was a mentor to and eventually a member of the [[The Blasters|Blasters]]. He recorded with the roots-rockers on all of their albums except for their debut, ''American Music''. The second and all subsequent Blasters releases, on Slash/Warner Bros, featured him on tenor sax as well as [[Steve Berlin]] on baritone sax. Allen also toured with them from the early 1980s.
Allen was a mentor to and eventually a member of the [[The Blasters|Blasters]]. He recorded with the roots-rockers on all of their albums except for their debut, ''American Music''. The second and all subsequent Blasters releases, on Slash/Warner Bros, featured him on tenor sax as well as [[Steve Berlin]] on baritone sax. Allen also toured with them during the early to mid-1980s and on occasion appeared as a special guest in the band's later lineups.


In October 1981, Allen played three shows with the [[Rolling Stones]]: on October 1 at the Metro Centre, in [[Rockford, Illinois]], and on October 3 and 4 at [[Folsom Field]], in [[Boulder, Colorado]].<ref>MacLagan, Ian (1998). ''All the Rage''. [[Sidgwick & Jackson]]. {{ISBN|978-0283063343}}.</ref>
In October 1981, Allen played three shows with the [[Rolling Stones]]: on October 1 at the Metro Centre, in [[Rockford, Illinois]], and on October 3 and 4 at [[Folsom Field]], in [[Boulder, Colorado]].<ref>MacLagan, Ian (1998). ''All the Rage''. [[Sidgwick & Jackson]]. {{ISBN|978-0283063343}}.</ref>

Allen continued to tour with Fats Domino into the 1990s. In late 1992, he took part in studio dates for what would be his final album: ''The Ultimate Session'', released by High Street/Windham Hill in 1994. The group of New Orleans all-stars featured Palmer, [[Alvin Tyler]], [[Dr. John]], and [[Allen Toussaint]].<ref="billboard"/>


Lee Allen died of cancer in 1994.<ref name="offbeat"/> After Allen's death, Blasters member [[Dave Alvin]] dedicated the song "Mister Lee" (on the 1996 album ''[[Interstate City]]'') to hos longtime friend and bandmate. Alvin noted that melody was Allen's passion, and that it was what separated him from less sophisticated honkers. Earl King added that whereas other saxophonists would get too jazzy, Allen had commercial appeal.<ref name="offbeat"/>
Lee Allen died of cancer in 1994.<ref name="offbeat"/> After Allen's death, Blasters member [[Dave Alvin]] dedicated the song "Mister Lee" (on the 1996 album ''[[Interstate City]]'') to hos longtime friend and bandmate. Alvin noted that melody was Allen's passion, and that it was what separated him from less sophisticated honkers. Earl King added that whereas other saxophonists would get too jazzy, Allen had commercial appeal.<ref name="offbeat"/>

Revision as of 14:12, 16 September 2019

Allen in 1980

Lee Francis Allen[1] (July 2, 1927 – October 18, 1994) was an American tenor saxophone player. Phil Alvin, Allen's bandmate in The Blasters, called him one of the most important instrumentalists in rock'n'roll."[2] Allen's distinctive tone has been hailed as "one of the defining sounds of rock'n'roll" and "one of the DNA strands of rock."[3]

Allen was a key figure in New Orleans rock and roll of the 1950s and recorded with many leading performers of the early rock and roll era. He was semiretired from music by the late 1960s, but in the late 1970s returned to performing intermittently until the end of his life.

Biography

Allen was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, and raised largely in Denver, Colorado.[1] He played saxophone from his childhood. A combined athletics and music scholarship from Xavier University led to his relocating to New Orleans in 1943.[3]

He fell into the city's thriving music scene, performing or recording with dozens of musicians in the early days of rock and roll and rhythm and blues. In 1947, he joined the Paul Gayten Band and later, the Dave Bartholomew Band.[4] Notable are his recordings with the singers Fats Domino and Lloyd Price. Allen also was the sax soloist on most of Little Richard's epochal hits from 1955 and 1956.[5] Earl King, whom Allen backed, recalled that Allen was "part of the wallpaper" at Cosimo Matassa's studio, and that Allen was on all the records by Huey "Piano" Smith.[3] Allen and drummer Earl Palmer also backed Professor Longhair on many recordings.

His own instrumental, "Walkin' with Mr. Lee", released by Ember Records, was a minor hit in 1958, partly because it was frequently played on the television program American Bandstand. This and Allen's subsequent singles are collected on the album also called "Walkin' with Mr. Lee".[3]

By the mid-1960s, Allen saw the city of New Orleans no longer the recording mecca it was for almost a decade. So he soon followed Earl Palmer's lead and moved to southern California in 1965, performing only occasionally on tours with Fats Domino. He found work at an aircraft manufacturing plant by day and also fell easily into the thriving R & B scene by night.[3] He formed an organ trio and peffomed with his close friends T-Bone Walker and Big Joe TurnerCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).

After the rockabilly revival got going in the late 1970s, younger musicians sought Allen's distinctive saxophone. He recorded with the Stray Cats on their second album, Gonna Ball (1981).

Allen was a mentor to and eventually a member of the Blasters. He recorded with the roots-rockers on all of their albums except for their debut, American Music. The second and all subsequent Blasters releases, on Slash/Warner Bros, featured him on tenor sax as well as Steve Berlin on baritone sax. Allen also toured with them during the early to mid-1980s and on occasion appeared as a special guest in the band's later lineups.

In October 1981, Allen played three shows with the Rolling Stones: on October 1 at the Metro Centre, in Rockford, Illinois, and on October 3 and 4 at Folsom Field, in Boulder, Colorado.[6]

Allen continued to tour with Fats Domino into the 1990s. In late 1992, he took part in studio dates for what would be his final album: The Ultimate Session, released by High Street/Windham Hill in 1994. The group of New Orleans all-stars featured Palmer, Alvin Tyler, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint.<ref="billboard"/>

Lee Allen died of cancer in 1994.[3] After Allen's death, Blasters member Dave Alvin dedicated the song "Mister Lee" (on the 1996 album Interstate City) to hos longtime friend and bandmate. Alvin noted that melody was Allen's passion, and that it was what separated him from less sophisticated honkers. Earl King added that whereas other saxophonists would get too jazzy, Allen had commercial appeal.[3]

Partial discography

  • "Chuggin'" b/w "Tic Toc", Lee Allen and His Band, Ember Records 7" E-1039X (Canada)

References

  1. ^ a b Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. p. 354. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ Morris, Chris (November 5, 1994). "Allen Remembered as Top Rock'n'Roll Saxophonist". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Kunian, Dave (December 1, 2000). "Masters Of Louisiana Music: Lee Allen". Offbeat.
  4. ^ Ward, Ed (2016). The History of Rock & Roll, volume one, 1920–1963. New York: Flatiron Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-250-07116-3.
  5. ^ Ward 2016, p. 107.
  6. ^ MacLagan, Ian (1998). All the Rage. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0283063343.
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