Vocalist Terry Allen joined Red Norvo in early 1938, where he worked alongside famed singer Mildred Bailey, who was also Norvo’s wife. When Bailey left the band in early January 1939, Allen remained as sole vocalist.[1] By August 1939, Allen was with Larry Clinton, where he stayed until joining Will Bradley’s orchestra in January 1941. When the band’s co-leader, Ray McKinley, split the group in January 1942, Allen remained with Bradley.
After Bradley decided to give up leading his band for health reasons in June 1942, he offered Allen the job of fronting it. Allen turned him down and instead decided to sign with Claude Thornhill, where he replaced Dick Harding. Allen stayed only a couple of months with Thornhill before joining Hal McIntyre’s orchestra. He soon fell victim to the draft, however, leaving in October for the Navy. He was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, where he sang with Saxie Dowell’s naval band.
Allen apparently suffered an injury or affliction in 1944 as he spent two-and-a-half months in the hospital before being given an honorable discharge mid-year. Reports suggested he would form his own band. He instead joined Johnny Long’s orchestra, though he did not stay. He earned his own daily CBS radio program in September and became a regular performer at the famous Stage Door Canteen.
Allen recorded for the Atlantic label in 1948, singing film composer David Broekman’s “Jade Green,” an experimental, exotic tune. He continued singing into the 1950s.
Notes
Norvo’s band went through a contentious “split” at the end of 1938, losing several key members. It appeared for a while that the orchestra had disbanded as Norvo and Bailey began to work solo. Norvo brought the band back after the new year, though, with mostly new members. Some blamed Bailey’s meddling and Norvo’s lack of leadership for the turnover, while Norvo insisted that the break had only been due to many of the band’s members being ill. ↩︎