Biography
Annisteen Allen, born Ernestine Letitia Allen on November 11, 1920 in Champaign, Illinois, and raised in Toledo, Ohio, was a pioneering American blues and jazz singer[3][5][7][8]. From an early age, Allen sang in church choirs and local amateur groups, eventually joining her high school orchestra as its only Black member, which highlighted her distinctive vocal style[1]. Her professional career began in earnest after a period of hardship, including being stranded in Dallas and briefly leaving music before returning to perform in local clubs[1].
Allen's big break came when she was discovered by bandleader Lucky Millinder, who credited her with learning the art of performance during their seven-year collaboration[1]. She became known for her powerful, throaty vocals and provocative blues delivery, recording with Millinder's orchestra and later with Bull Moose Jackson's band[1][6]. Her repertoire included jazz-tinged blues, boogie-woogie, and early rhythm & blues, with notable tracks such as "Baby, I'm Doin' It" and "Fujiyama Mama"[4]. Allen's style drew comparisons to Ella Fitzgerald and was marked by her mastery of both blues and jazz idioms[2][6].
Despite facing critical resistance to her risqué lyrics and energetic performances, Allen carved out a space for female empowerment in postwar blues, influencing the genre's transition into rockabilly and rhythm & blues[4]. She continued performing and recording into the 1950s, leaving a legacy as one of the overlooked but foundational voices in American blues and jazz history[4][5].
Fun Facts
- Allen's first major recording, "How Big Can You Get, Little Man?", featured playful double entendres, a hallmark of her bold lyrical style[4].
- She was the only Black member of her high school orchestra, chosen for her distinctive voice[1].
- Allen was discovered in Dallas thanks to a tip from Louis Jordan, another legendary bandleader[1].
- Her song "Fujiyama Mama" was later popularized in Japan by Wanda Jackson, becoming a rockabilly anthem[4].
Associated Acts
- Annisteen Allen & Her Home Town Boys
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Lucky Millinder - Millinder discovered Allen and taught her the essentials of stage performance during their seven-year collaboration. (Recordings with Lucky Millinder's Orchestra (1945–1952)) [1945–1952]
Key Collaborators
- Bull Moose Jackson - Allen recorded and performed with Jackson's orchestra, contributing vocals to several tracks. (Queen label recordings including "Oo-Oo-Ee Bob A Lee Bob" and "Arkansas") [1946–1947]
- Don Albert - Allen briefly worked as a vocalist for Albert's band during her early career. (Live performances with Don Albert's band) [Early 1940s]
Artists Influenced
- Wanda Jackson - Allen's original recording of "Fujiyama Mama" set the stage for Jackson's later, more famous rockabilly cover. (Wanda Jackson's "Fujiyama Mama" (1957)) [1955–1957]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fujiyama Mama | 2007-08-19 | Album |
| Classics by Lucky Millinder Orchestra | 2017-01-30 | Album |
| Golden Selection (Remastered) | 2021-10-15 | Album |
| Big Beat Mama - R&B Royalty of Annisteen Allen | 2025-06-20 | Album |
| 1945-1953 | 2004 | Album |
| Born Ernestine Letitia Allen | 2025-06-27 | Album |
| Got A Lot Of Nerve | 2025-05-16 | Album |
| Just Jazz Presents, Annisteen Allen | 2024-03-15 | Album |
| My Baby Keeps on Rollin' | 2023-10-01 | Album |
| Try To Live Without You | 2023-03-17 | Album |
| My Brand of Loving | 2021-07-09 | Album |
| Bittersweet | 2020-06-04 | Album |
| Bittersweet | 2019-07-09 | Album |
| Let It Roll | 2019-03-12 | Album |
| Blues & Rhythm Series Classics | 2015-07-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- There's Good Blues Tonight (Classics by Lucky Millinder Orchestra)
- Take a Chance On Me
- Baby I'm Doin' It - Remastered (Golden Selection (Remastered))
- The Bluest Blues (Fujiyama Mama)
- Fujiyama Mama (Fujiyama Mama)
- Wheels of Love (Fujiyama Mama)
- G'wan About Your Business (Fujiyama Mama)
- The Bluest Blues (10-31-51) (1945-1953)
- Mine, All Mine
- Mine All Mine - Remastered (Golden Selection (Remastered))
External Links
Tags: #blues, #jazz, #jump-blues
References
Heard on WWOZ
annisteen allen has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2025 | 19:07 | i want a man | Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr. |