Leonard Allen

b. 21 March 1900, Montgomery, Alabama, USA, d. 16 July 1985, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Allen was an archive company professional who going the United/Says label group within the 50s. During its six-year presence, the firm created a number of the biggest R&B strikes of the period, included in this, Jimmy Forrest’s ‘Night time Train’, Tabs Smith’s ‘Because Of You’, the Danderliers’ ‘Chop Growth’ as well as the Four Blazes’ ‘Mary Jo.’ A number of the performers who started with the business had been the Staple Performers, the Caravans and Junior Wells. Well known blues singers using the label had been Robert Nighthawk, Roosevelt Sykes and Memphis Slim. Allen visited Chicago in 1917, and through the 20s sang inside a gospel quartet. From 1928 towards the past due 40s, he offered as an official within the Chicago Law enforcement Division. He was earning money like a tailor in 1951, when he became a member of the record business by co-founding the United label with Lew Simpkins, who experienced earlier worked well in A&R at Wonder and then High quality, two labels possessed by Lee Egalnick. Simpkins passed away in-may 1953, departing Allen because the single owner. In 1953 the business added a subsidiary label, Says. Allen shut United/Says in 1957, consequently making occasional small forays in to the record business, but essentially subsisting on the tailoring business.