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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZALLEN, Steve(b Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen, 26 Dec. '21, NYC; d 30 Oct. 2000) Comedian, TV personality, also songwriter and self-taught pianist (playing by ear); also wrote mysteries (e.g. Murder On The Atlantic '95). Disc jockey in LA; back to NYC '51, became TV host on the Tonight show from '54, a likeable unpretentious man, seeing wacky humour in everyday situations. He left Tonight for his own prime-time Steve Allen Show; Jack Paar, then Johnny Carson succeeded him on Tonight and the show that Allen started became a national institution. His albums included Jazz For Tonight '55, with Milt Hinton, Urbie Green, others; album of his songs arranged and recorded by Manny Albam '58. His best-known songs included 'Mr Moon' (his TV theme), 'Impossible' and 'This Could Be The Start Of Something Big' (both for TV musical The Bachelor). He used first-class talent on the TV shows, e.g. the Les Brown band, Skitch Henderson, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé; he hosted the first networked TV programme on jazz on NBC '57; narrated a three-disc historical jazz album '59; played title role in '59 biopic The Benny Goodman Story. He even helped the career of Jerry Lee Lewis, who named a son after him. Further albums: Plays Jazz Tonight '93 on Concord included Howard Alden and Ken Peplowski; Plays Hi-Fi Music For Influentials on Verèse Sarabande. |