Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 26, 1921 in New York City, NY

Death

:

October 30, 2000 in Encino, CA

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Steve Allen was an American composer, musician, and television personality who was born on December 26, 1921, in New York City. He was the son of Carroll Allen, a vaudeville comedian, and Isabelle Donohue, a concert pianist. Allen grew up in Chicago and attended Lane Technical High School, where he developed an interest in music and began playing the piano. After high school, Allen attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he studied radio and television production. He also continued to pursue his passion for music and played in jazz bands and orchestras. In 1943, Allen enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in World War II as a radio operator and disc jockey. After the war, Allen returned to Chicago and began working as a radio announcer and disc jockey. He also continued to play music and formed his own jazz band, the Steve Allen Orchestra. In 1949, Allen moved to Los Angeles and began working in television as a writer and performer. He became a regular on the popular variety show "The Tonight Show" and eventually became the show's first host in 1954. Despite his success in television, Allen never lost his love for music and continued to compose and perform throughout his career. He wrote over 8,500 songs and composed music for films, television shows, and stage productions. Some of his most famous compositions include "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," "Gravy Waltz," and "The Cool School." Allen was also a prolific author and wrote over 50 books on a variety of topics, including humor, politics, and religion. He was a vocal advocate for free speech and civil rights and used his platform as a television personality to speak out on these issues. Throughout his career, Allen received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music and entertainment. He won a Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition in 1964 and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1993. Steve Allen passed away on October 30, 2000, at the age of 78. He left behind a legacy as a talented musician, composer, and entertainer who used his platform to promote social justice and free expression. His contributions to the world of music and entertainment continue to inspire and entertain audiences today.

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