Richard Allen
May 25, 1942 – October 3, 1997
| Instrument | voice |
| Birthplace | New York, NY |
Available Leadsheets
- I Remember Love (vocal) - Tadd Dameron & Bernie Hanighen Latin (Bossa)
- Sweet Life (vocal) - Tadd Dameron & Bernie Hanighen Ballad
Richard Allen was child actor on Broadway, working under the name Michael Allen. He starred in Peter Pan, The King & I, and many great Broadway shows. He also had a career in early television; first in the original, live production of Peter Pan, then commercials and soap operas, starring in the Guiding Light soap until his early 20s.
After his discharge from the army, he got into the NY jazz scene, where he could express his emotions by singing jazz with his stunning baritone voice. Unfortunately he also got into the drug scene for a time, but he was able to put his life back together in Taos, New Mexico, where he sang regularly at the historic Taos Inn.
A chance meeting on the New York streets with a trumpeter friend led to Don Sickler hearing Richard's extraordinary voice. Don brought Richard to NY to record at the famed Van Gelder Recording Studio, where he spent a few days singing with pianists Norman Simmons and Rodgers Grant.
Unfortunately, soon after that trip, Richard died.