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Rick Allen (organist)
Encyclopedia
Rick Allen is a blues
, rock
and R&B
Hammond organist and pianist. In the 1960s, he played organ trio
gigs in L.A..and did session work with singers and guitarists such as Jerry McGee
and Rick Vito
. In the 1970s, he toured with Don Preston
, and recorded with Delaney & Bonnie. Allen moved to New Orleans in the 1980s, where he played and recorded with a number of blues and cajun performers including Ernie K-Doe
, King Floyd
, Freddy Fender
, Marcia Ball
.
in the mid-1940s, and he began playing drums
at age five, guitar
at age seven, piano
at nine and Hammond Organ
at age 11. He practiced in department stores and churches, because his parents could not afford an organ. Blues
and R&B
were very popular in Los Angeles
in the 1950s. As a boy, Allen listened to performers such as Howlin’ Wolf, Otis Rush
, Buddy Guy
, John Lee Hooker
, and Muddy Waters
.
At age eighteen, he joined the The Bonnevilles, a touring band from Milwaukee led by guitarist Larry Lynne. The group played nightclubs all around the Midwestern states, and accompanied Jimmy Clanton
in Milwaukee and Johnny "Guitar" Watson in California
. They also played with The Olympics. In the 1960s, Allen started to learn the jazz organ styles of Hammond Organ
virtuoso Jimmy Smith
.
in Chicago
, where they recorded two songs. Sonny Boy Williamson
played harmonica on one of the tunes, “Fanny Mae”, but the record was never released.
In California
, Allen played with jazz tenor sax player Tom Fabre, and began playing organ trio
gigs in Watts and South Central L.A.. The group played the “off nights” in the jazz clubs that booked Jimmy Smith
, "Groove" Holmes, Shirley Scott
and Baby Face Willette
. Allen began playing in Hollywood on the Sunset Strip
at The Galaxy in the band Al and the Originals. The lead singer was Bobby Angelle and the guitarist was Arthur Adams. With Angelle, Rick recorded some songs on Liberty Records
with Dr. John and former Raylettes’ Clydie King
, Shirley Matthews and Vanetta Fields.
Allen also worked with Etta James
for several weeks at the Californian Club in L.A. Bobby Angelle, Arthur Adams
and he also recorded songs on Money Records. Allen played with a band called Blue Rose
, and did session work with singer Joanne Vent on A&M Records
, and Genya Raven, (with guitarists Jerry McGee
and Rick Vito
, plus drummer Eddie Tuduri) on ABC Records
.
. In 1974, Rick went on the road again, this time with Don Preston
, guitarist for Leon Russell
. They played show clubs from New York to California, and recorded an album in San Francisco for Shelter Records
. Also in 1974, Rick did several recordings with Delaney Bramlett, including an album for MGM Records
and two albums for Motown Records
. In 1978, Rick went on tour with Bonnie Bramlett
, for Capricorn Records
.
Allen and his wife Anne moved to New Orleans in 1983, and Allen began working in blues clubs with Mighty Sam McClain and drummer Kerry Brown. Later, he worked with Ernie K-Doe
, (Mother In Law), Jesse Hill, Bobby Mitchell
, Johnny Adams
, Jay Monque’D, King Floyd
, C.P.Love, The Boogie Kings
, and Guitar Slim Junior.” In 1991, Allen began doing studio work at Allen Toussaint’s Sea Saint Studios in New Orleans with producer/engineer Roger Branch.
Allen contributed to many albums at Sea Saint, including recordings by slide guitar bluesman Brint Anderson, Freddy Fender
, Marcia Ball
and Robert “Barefootin” Parker. He played on Orleans Records recordings by artists like Cajun blues singer Coco Robicheaux
, blues singers Rocky Charles, Little Freddie King
, Mighty Sam McClain and others.
, for the album Gloryland
. In the 2000s, Allen and his wife Anne lived in the bayou country of south Louisiana.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
Hammond organist and pianist. In the 1960s, he played organ trio
Organ trio
An organ trio, in a jazz context, is a group of three jazz musicians, typically consisting of a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, and drummer, making it a quartet...
gigs in L.A..and did session work with singers and guitarists such as Jerry McGee
Jerry McGee
Jerry McGee is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.McGee was born in New Lexington, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University and was a member of the golf team. He turned pro in 1966 and joined the PGA Tour in 1967.McGee won four PGA Tour events in...
and Rick Vito
Rick Vito
Rick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
. In the 1970s, he toured with Don Preston
Don Preston
Donald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
, and recorded with Delaney & Bonnie. Allen moved to New Orleans in the 1980s, where he played and recorded with a number of blues and cajun performers including Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe , born Ernest Kador, Jr., was an African American rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law" which went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S.-Early career:...
, King Floyd
King Floyd
King Floyd was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his Top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".-Early career:...
, Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is an American blues singer and pianist, born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. She was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist.....
.
Early years
Allen was born near Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the mid-1940s, and he began playing drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
at age five, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at age seven, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at nine and Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
at age 11. He practiced in department stores and churches, because his parents could not afford an organ. Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
were very popular in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1950s. As a boy, Allen listened to performers such as Howlin’ Wolf, Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, and Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
.
At age eighteen, he joined the The Bonnevilles, a touring band from Milwaukee led by guitarist Larry Lynne. The group played nightclubs all around the Midwestern states, and accompanied Jimmy Clanton
Jimmy Clanton
Jimmy Clanton is an American singer who became known as the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol". His band recorded a hit song "Just A Dream" which Clanton had written in 1958 for the Ace Records label. It reached number four on the Billboard chart and sold a million copies...
in Milwaukee and Johnny "Guitar" Watson in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They also played with The Olympics. In the 1960s, Allen started to learn the jazz organ styles of Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
virtuoso Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
.
1960s
In 1964, Allen and Larry Lynne formed a band called “The Skunks”, and as a gimmick, the band members dyed their hair black, and bleached white “skunk-stripes” on the sides. The Skunks were signed with Chess RecordsChess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where they recorded two songs. Sonny Boy Williamson
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
played harmonica on one of the tunes, “Fanny Mae”, but the record was never released.
In California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Allen played with jazz tenor sax player Tom Fabre, and began playing organ trio
Organ trio
An organ trio, in a jazz context, is a group of three jazz musicians, typically consisting of a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, and drummer, making it a quartet...
gigs in Watts and South Central L.A.. The group played the “off nights” in the jazz clubs that booked Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
, "Groove" Holmes, Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist. She was most known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis...
and Baby Face Willette
Baby Face Willette
Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette was a hard bop and soul-jazz musician most known for playing Hammond organ. It is unclear whether he was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, or New Orleans, Louisiana...
. Allen began playing in Hollywood on the Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
at The Galaxy in the band Al and the Originals. The lead singer was Bobby Angelle and the guitarist was Arthur Adams. With Angelle, Rick recorded some songs on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
with Dr. John and former Raylettes’ Clydie King
Clydie King
Clydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
, Shirley Matthews and Vanetta Fields.
Allen also worked with Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
for several weeks at the Californian Club in L.A. Bobby Angelle, Arthur Adams
Arthur Adams (singer)
Arthur Adams is an American blues musician from Medon, Tennessee. Inspired by B.B. King and other 1950s artists, he played gospel music before attending college. He moved to Los Angeles, and during the 1960s and 1970s he released solo albums and worked as a session musician...
and he also recorded songs on Money Records. Allen played with a band called Blue Rose
Blue Rose
Blue Rose were an all-star all-women band that played bluegrass music. All of the musicians in the group are solo artists in their own right who joined together to record an album as a group in 1988 for Sugar Hill Records.-Personnel:...
, and did session work with singer Joanne Vent on A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, and Genya Raven, (with guitarists Jerry McGee
Jerry McGee
Jerry McGee is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.McGee was born in New Lexington, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University and was a member of the golf team. He turned pro in 1966 and joined the PGA Tour in 1967.McGee won four PGA Tour events in...
and Rick Vito
Rick Vito
Rick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
, plus drummer Eddie Tuduri) on ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
.
1970s and 1980s
In 1973, Allen went on a national tour with Dalton and DubarriDalton and Dubarri
Dalton and Dubarri were a rock band from the 1970s. The leads were Gary Dalton, and Kent Dubarri who released four albums. Two of them were on Columbia records.-History:...
. In 1974, Rick went on the road again, this time with Don Preston
Don Preston
Donald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
, guitarist for Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
. They played show clubs from New York to California, and recorded an album in San Francisco for Shelter Records
Shelter Records
Shelter Records was a U.S. record label started by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell that operated from 1969 to 1981. The company established offices in both Los Angeles and Tulsa, Russell's home town, where the label sought to promote a "workshop atmosphere" with a recording studio in a converted...
. Also in 1974, Rick did several recordings with Delaney Bramlett, including an album for MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
and two albums for Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. In 1978, Rick went on tour with Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.-Life and career:Bramlett...
, for Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
.
Allen and his wife Anne moved to New Orleans in 1983, and Allen began working in blues clubs with Mighty Sam McClain and drummer Kerry Brown. Later, he worked with Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe , born Ernest Kador, Jr., was an African American rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law" which went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S.-Early career:...
, (Mother In Law), Jesse Hill, Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell
Robert Cornelius Mitchell is a former American football halfback and flanker in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins. Mitchell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.-Early life:Mitchell was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and attended...
, Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
, Jay Monque’D, King Floyd
King Floyd
King Floyd was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his Top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".-Early career:...
, C.P.Love, The Boogie Kings
The Boogie Kings
The Boogie Kings are an American Cajun swamp pop and blue-eyed soul group.-History:The band formulated in Eunice, Louisiana in 1955 as teenagers first consisting members Doug Ardoin, Skip Morris, Bert Miller, Bryan Leger, and Harris Miller...
, and Guitar Slim Junior.” In 1991, Allen began doing studio work at Allen Toussaint’s Sea Saint Studios in New Orleans with producer/engineer Roger Branch.
Allen contributed to many albums at Sea Saint, including recordings by slide guitar bluesman Brint Anderson, Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is an American blues singer and pianist, born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. She was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist.....
and Robert “Barefootin” Parker. He played on Orleans Records recordings by artists like Cajun blues singer Coco Robicheaux
Coco Robicheaux
Curtis John Arceneaux better known by the name Coco Robicheaux, was an American blues musician and artist, from Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States.He was born in Merced, California...
, blues singers Rocky Charles, Little Freddie King
Little Freddie King
Little Freddie King is an American Delta blues guitarist. His style was based on Freddie King, although his own approach to country blues is original.-Biography:...
, Mighty Sam McClain and others.
1990s
In 2000, Allen was nominated for a Grammy Award with The Dukes of Dixieland and world-renowned drummer Richard TaylorRichard Taylor
Richard Taylor may refer to:*Richard Taylor , father of U.S. president Zachary Taylor*Richard Taylor , British general*Richard Taylor , son of U.S...
, for the album Gloryland
Gloryland (album)
Gloryland is the official FIFA release for songs of the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. It has been published under various titles like Soccer Rocks the Globe: World Cup USA 94 and Gloryland WorldCup USA 94-Tracklisting:...
. In the 2000s, Allen and his wife Anne lived in the bayou country of south Louisiana.