Pete Allen was born in Newbury, Berkshire, the only child of Bernard and June Allen. He was educated at Winchcombe Primary and Junior schools, then Downs School at Compton. While at Downs he was taught music by Don Paxton who gave him a good grounding in classical music.
Musical career
Pete Allen first became interested in playing music while still at school when he started to play clarinet with his father's band. Bernie Allen had formed a trio with organ, drums and himself on banjo, known as Pete Giles and his Merry Men. After a brief career as a P.C. in Thames Valley Police Force, Pete joined Rod Mason's Jazz Band in 1976. The band's line-up was Rod Mason, Chris Haskins, Jimmy Garforth, Johnny Withers, Pete Allen and Roger Marks. Pete Allen first formed his band in October 1978 which consisted of Pete as leader, Janusz Carmello, John Armatage, Campbell Burnap, Bernie Allen and Tony Bagot. During the early years they made thirty appearances on "Pebble Mill at One" for BBC Television. In 1983 the Pete Allen Jazz band made the first of several trips to the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, California. Their first concert was played to a 4,500 audience with Pete and Bernie, Chris Hodgkins, Ian Bateman, Tony Bagot and Graham Scriven. In 1984 Pete Allen was invited to lead the Worldwide All Stars selected from the best players from the various bands in the festival. The line up included Jack Lesberg and Barrett Deems who had both played with Louis Armstrong's All Stars. In 1992 Pete Allen organised a trip to New Orleans with British musicians including his own band. He was called up to meet the city mayor and was awarded an Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans for services to British music and tourism. During the late 1980s and 1990s a show "Jazzin' Around" was played in UK theatres, which included among many guests, Tommy Burton, Beryl Bryden, Joan Savage, Don Lusher, Clinton Ford and George Chisholm.
Recent Work
The Pete Allen Jazz Band and his Dukes of Wellington appear at prestigious jazz festivals, theatres and clubs throughout the UK and abroad, with appearances in France, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain. In the UK, regular monthly concerts are held in Minehead, Newbury and Sidmouth. The current line-up includes Richie Bryant, Dave Hanratty, James Clemas, Dave Moorwood, Roger Marks, Andy Dickens and is led by Pete Allen. During November 22–24 November 2019, Pete Allen celebrated his 65th birthday with a weekend programme of Jazz at the Sidholme Hotel, Sidmouth. With the Pete Allen Jazz Band, guests also included Enrico Tomasso and Tad Newton's Jazz Friends. Pete Allen has recently published a book: On the Beat: My Life as a Jazz Musician.
Discography
Since 1978 Pete has released over 100 albums on LPs, cassettes and CDs on the following independent labels: Black Lion Records, PAR Records, JMA Recordings, Raymer Sound, Upbeat Recordings, Loose Tie Recordings, d&p Recordings
