Bob Allen

Born

  • 1913
  • Cincinnati, OH

Died

  • April 24, 1989

Bob Allen

Big Band singer and orchestra leader Bob Allen studied voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. In 1933 he joined Hal Kemp's orchestra as second male vocalist, behind Skinnay Ennis. Ennis sang those numbers that required an intimate feeling, while Allen sang those that needed power. When Ennis left Kemp in 1938 Allen became the lead vocalist, later taking over the orchestra in December of 1940 after Kemp was killed in an automobile accident. The band, though, began to fall apart without Kemp's leadership and broke up shortly thereafter. Allen then took over Vince Patti's Cleveland, Ohio, orchestra.

Allen, who had seemed shy and reserved with Kemp, livened up leading his own group, waving his baton enthusiastically and smiling at the crowd. His naturally good looks charmed many a young female dancer. Unfortunately, his new group lasted only a short while, never acheiving a great deal of success.

In 1944 Allen joined Tommy Dorsey as a vocalist, leaving the following year for the Army. He was discharged in 1946. After his discharge he mostly freelanced, singing with such orchestras as those of Carmen Cavallaro, Isham Jones, and Hoagy Carmichael. He finally retired from show business and moved to Encino, California, where he went into the woodworking business.

Special thanks to Jenny Jacobsen for the photo of her father-in-law. (More photos)