During a professional career in show business that has spanned over 45 years, there is so much Pete has achieved that it is impossible to list everything. However, here are a few highlights:-
1. After three years as a Police Constable he joined the Rod Mason Jazz Band in 1976, and he sees this as his apprenticeship in the world of entertainment – he toured the UK and abroad, appeared on a number of TV and radio programmes and featured on three LPs.
2. He formed his own fully professional band on the 1st October 1978.
3. Throughout the late seventies, eighties and nineties, the Pete Allen Jazz Band was the most featured band of its style on a host of popular BBC Radio Two programmes, including regular slots on the Terry Wogan Breakfast Show and others presented by Jimmy Young, John Dunn, Ray Moore, Gloria Hunniford, Pete Clayton, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sheila Tracey and Brian Matthew. He also featured on Music While You Work, Friday Night is Music Night and a number of Bank Holiday Special broadcasts for Pete Murray and Paul Daniels.
4. In addition to radio, the band made regular appearances on television for BBC Pebble Mill at One and Harry Secombe Highway, plus Jazz Specials for Border TV, TSW, TV South, HTV West, BBC South and BBC West . He also made appearances on various European TV shows in Germany, Denmark and Holland whilst on tour.
Throughout his career Pete has released over 100 recordings on LPs/CDs and tapes for various recording labels including Black Lion, Loose Tie, Platform, JMA and Upbeat.
5. The band represented England at the Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee USA in 1983, ʼ84 and ʼ86. Here in ʼ83, Pete was also chosen to lead the Worldwide All Stars – a band that included Barrett Deams (drums) and Jack Lesberg (bass) both ex-members of Louis Armstrong’s All Stars. This was the world’s greatest dixieland festival and at its peak in the eighties it attracted audiences of 85,000.
6. In 1992, whilst playing tour dates in St Louis and New Orleans USA, Pete was awarded Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans for his services to British music and tourism.
7. In both 2000 and 2001 his band won the Band of the Year award at Risley Park Jazz Club.
8. Over the years Pete has played alongside many USA jazz legends including Billy Butterfield, Benny Waters, Peanuts Hucko, Bob Wilber and UK jazz stars Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, George Chisholm, Tommy Burton, Beryl Bryden, Joan Savage, Clinton Ford, Don Lusher and Jack Parnell. His band has also provided the birthday party music for Roy Hudd and Sir Ian Botham.
9. During the past 45 years his band personnel has always featured a host of British talent, and his present line-up is highlighted on the ‘Pete Allen Jazz Band’ page.
Further details about the band and its activities can be found on the ‘Residencies’ page, ‘Additional Gigs’ page and ‘Pete’s 45th Anniversary Jazz Party’ page which took place on the 1st October 2023.
During a professional career in show business that has spanned over 45 years, there is so much Pete has achieved that it is impossible to list everything. However, here are a few highlights:-
1. After three years as a Police Constable he joined the Rod Mason Jazz Band in 1976, and he sees this as his apprenticeship in the world of entertainment – he toured the UK and abroad, appeared on a number of TV and radio programmes and featured on three LPs.
2. He formed his own fully professional band on the 1st October 1978.
3. Throughout the late seventies, eighties and nineties, the Pete Allen Jazz Band was the most featured band of its style on a host of popular BBC Radio Two programmes, including regular slots on the Terry Wogan Breakfast Show and others presented by Jimmy Young, John Dunn, Ray Moore, Gloria Hunniford, Pete Clayton, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sheila Tracey and Brian Matthew. He also featured on Music While You Work, Friday Night is Music Night and a number of Bank Holiday Special broadcasts for Pete Murray and Paul Daniels.
4. In addition to radio, the band made regular appearances on television for BBC Pebble Mill at One and Harry Secombe Highway, plus Jazz Specials for Border TV, TSW, TV South, HTV West, BBC South and BBC West . He also made appearances on various European TV shows in Germany, Denmark and Holland whilst on tour.
Throughout his career Pete has released over 100 recordings on LPs/CDs and tapes for various recording labels including Black Lion, Loose Tie, Platform, JMA and Upbeat.
5. The band represented England at the Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee USA in 1983, ʼ84 and ʼ86. Here in ʼ83, Pete was also chosen to lead the Worldwide All Stars – a band that included Barrett Deams (drums) and Jack Lesberg (bass) both ex-members of Louis Armstrong’s All Stars. This was the world’s greatest dixieland festival and at its peak in the eighties it attracted audiences of 85,000.
6. In 1992, whilst playing tour dates in St Louis and New Orleans USA, Pete was awarded Honorary Citizenship of New Orleans for his services to British music and tourism.
7. In both 2000 and 2001 his band won the Band of the Year award at Risley Park Jazz Club.
8. Over the years Pete has played alongside many USA jazz legends including Billy Butterfield, Benny Waters, Peanuts Hucko, Bob Wilber and UK jazz stars Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, George Chisholm, Tommy Burton, Beryl Bryden, Joan Savage, Clinton Ford, Don Lusher and Jack Parnell. His band has also provided the birthday party music for Roy Hudd and Sir Ian Botham.
9. During the past 45 years his band personnel has always featured a host of British talent, and his present line-up is highlighted on the ‘Pete Allen Jazz Band’ page.
Further details about the band and its activities can be found on the ‘Residencies’ page, ‘Additional Gigs’ page and ‘Pete’s 45th Anniversary Jazz Party’ page which took place on the 1st October 2023.