{{Short description|American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Fletcher Allen | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Fletcher Allen | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1905|7|25}} | birth_place = La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States<ref name="Grove"/> | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1995|8|5|1905|7|25}} | death_place = New York | genre = Jazz | occupation = Musician<br>Composer<br>Arranger | instrument = Saxophone<br>Clarinet | years_active = 1925-1995 }}
'''Fletcher Allen''' (July 25, 1905 – August 5, 1995) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.<ref name="Grove">{{Cite Grove |author=|title=Allen, Fletcher (Bedford)|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J006900|date=20 January 2002}}</ref>
==Biography== Several published sources have incorrectly stated that Allen was born in Cleveland, Ohio. The Social Security index, the United States Veterans index, Allen's draft registration card, and the Wisconsin Births and Christenings Index all confirm that he was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin.<ref name="Grove"/>
In 1926 he relocated to New York City as a member of the Scott brothers band.<ref name="Grove"/> Cecil Scott was also a wind instrumentalist and Lloyd Scott was a drummer, and they co-led the band in performances at the Savoy Ballroom. In addition to performing with the group, Allen also recorded with the ensemble in 1927.<ref name="Grove"/>
In 1927, he travelled to Europe working in a band under the direction of Leon Abbey, a bandleader whose popularity in jazz started off a 1936 tour of India in which Allen also was involved.<ref name="Grove"/>
In 1938, he started playing with Benny Carter, with both him and Carter playing alto saxophone and clarinet, both had excellent reputations as arrangers.<ref name="Fletcher Allen Biography">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fletcher-allen-mn0001202932 |title=Fletcher Allen Biography |author=Eugene Chadbourne |website=All Music}}</ref>
In late 1938 he travelled to Egypt with the Harlem Rhythmakers, and did not return to the United States until 1940.<ref name="Grove"/> He served in the United States Army during World War II from January 1943 until August 1945.<ref name="Grove"/>
In the late 1940s he began playing the baritone saxophone.<ref name="Grove"/> He continued playing in New York City with a variety of band leaders up into the 1970s; including Fred “Taxi” Mitchell in 1970–1971.<ref name="Grove"/>
His composition "Viper's Dream" has become a jazz staple.<ref name="jazz.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/6/20/sebastian-giniaux-viper-s-dream |title=Sebastian Giniaux: Viper's Dream |work=jazz.com |accessdate=2008-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325171047/http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/6/20/sebastian-giniaux-viper-s-dream |archive-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Fletcher Allen Biography"/>
== Compositions == * "Viper's Dream" – recorded by Freddy Taylor (1935), Hot Club de France quintet (1937)<ref>{{cite book |title=Django |last=Dregni |first=Michael |year=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press US |isbn=978-0-19-530448-0 |pages=134 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3t8SLVloJjsC&dq=%22Fletcher+Allen%22+%2Bjazz&pg=PA134 |accessdate=2008-10-21}}</ref> and Sebastian Giniaux in 2008.<ref name="jazz.com"/> * "Swingin' in Paris" (1938)
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Fletcher}} Category:1905 births Category:1995 deaths Category:20th-century American jazz composers Category:20th-century American saxophonists Category:American jazz clarinetists Category:American male jazz composers Category:American jazz saxophonists Category:American male saxophonists Category:20th-century American male composers