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Steve Allen

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, which was the first late-night television talk show.

Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his extensive network television career. He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. After he hosted The Tonight Show, he went on to host numerous game and variety shows, including his own The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS's What's My Line? and, from 1977 until 1981, he wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds, a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format.

Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer. By his own estimate, he wrote more than 8,500 songs, some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers. Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition for "Gravy Waltz," for which he wrote the lyrics. He also wrote more than 50 books, including novels, children's books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio (2001).

In 1996, Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 26, 1921 (New York City), Died October 30, 2000 (Encino)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, vocalist, electric organ, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 161 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 87409 2/1/1955 The ballad of Davy Crockett Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87856 4/15/1955 Fine and dandy Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87857 4/15/1955 Limehouse blues Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87858 4/15/1955 S'posin' Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87859 4/15/1955 Chicken wire blues Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87860 4/15/1955 Lover man-1 Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87861 4/15/1955 Tea for two Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87862 4/15/1955 I thought about you Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87863 4/15/1955 Strike up the band Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87864 4/15/1955 Poor butterfly Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87865 4/15/1955 Body and soul-2 Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87975 5/8/1954 Big town boogie-5 Billy Butterfield Jazz Band ; Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87991 5/18/1955 The goo-goo doll song Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 87992 5/18/1955 Old Betsy Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88076 6/1/1955 You better go now Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88077 6/1/1955 Young love Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88078 6/1/1955 Love is young Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88079 6/1/1955 Tomboy Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88080 6/2/1955 Let's fall in love Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88081 6/2/1955 You are too beautiful Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88082 6/2/1955 Too young Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88083 6/2/1955 Last night when we were young Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88084 6/3/1955 The boy next door Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88085 6/3/1955 Junior Prom Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 88086 6/3/1955 Please be kind Steve Allen instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 161 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Allen, Steve," accessed November 4, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144.

Allen, Steve. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 4, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144.

"Allen, Steve." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/200144

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