ABSTRACT
Allen, Charles (1908-72). Trumpeter with Ellington from 1934-35. Allen was born in Mississippi and learned trombone in high school. His first job was with Hugh Swift’s band. After switching to trumpet, he found work with Dave Peyton and Doc Cooke. He was with Earl Hines’s band in Chicago when Ellington hired him in late 1934. He remained with Ellington for about a year, and then freelanced around Chicago.
