Trivia

Organist born in the mid-1920s, died in the mid-1980s.

Four children with Lovis: Kerri, Mandy, Kim & Gene.

In the 1970's and 1980's Allen made promotional tours for the Lowrey Organ Company and also produced several recordings of his organ playing for this company.

In 1940, he obtained his first job playing the organ at his local Regal cinema. The cinema became the victim of an air raid, but not before the youngster had been discovered by the comedian Tommy Trinder, who took him on tour.

He unfortunately suffered from polio as a child, and was overcoming this disability when at the age of fifteen.

In 1962 Allen formed his own big band, which included many of the Midlands' finest musicians.

In 1943 he made his first recordings with his newly-formed trio, in the Decca 'Music While You Work' series. The trio took to travelling the country in an old ambulance, and maintained a busy schedule playing many variety dates.

He was the son of a church organist, and spent his formative years in Margate.

In addition to Jerry on the Hammond organ, the trio comprised Alan Grahame on vibes, Ken Ingarfield on bass and percussionist Lionel Rubin. Lionel had been the power-house drummer with the Nat Gonella band.

Radio and television also got in touch, which brought him and his band in the fifties a high level of popularity in a short time.

In the following years, however, Allen increasingly took care of new compositions and arrangements on the newly created Hammond organ. His pianist John Patrick took over the band.

His first big break came early in 1943 when he appeared at London's Prince of Wales theatre in the Sid Field revue 'Strike a New Note'. Morecambe and Wise were also on the bill.

He made his public appearances as an organ player in his hometown at the age of fifteen.

During the war, comedian Tommy Trinder took him on tours as a musician.

The group's big break came in 1956 when Lew Grade booked them to provide the musical backing on Associated Television's 'Lunch Box', the popular Monday-to-Friday midday show hosted by Noele Gordon. Lunch Box' enjoyed an eight year run, and the Jerry Allen trio were involved with several other television series, becoming one of the countries most televised groups.

Illness struck in the early Eighties, leading to a spell in London's Royal Free Hospital. Jerry rallied, but unfortunately died on 17 July 1985, a few weeks shy of his 60th birthday.

As early as 1943 he founded his trio, with whom he made his first studio recordings for the Decca label. In the period that followed, he traveled from city to city with the trio, gaining increasing popularity.