Colin Allen

Colin Allen
Born	9 May 1938 (1938-05-09) (age 73) Bournemouth, Hampshire (now Dorset), England
Genres	Blues
Instruments	Drums, percussion
Years active	1958–present
Associated acts	Zoot Money's Big Roll Band Dantalian's Chariot John Mayall's Bluesbreakers Mick Taylor Focus Bob Dylan Stone The Crows Rod Stewart The British Blues Quintet Rod Stewart Brian Joseph Friel

Colin Allen (born 9 May 1938, Bournemouth, Hampshire (now in Dorset), England) is an English blues drummer and songwriter.

Career

Allen took up drums at the age of 18, playing initially with local jazz musician in Dorset. During 1961 Allen became a member of Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, which also included Andy Summers (later of The Police)^[1] and still appears occasionally, with the 'Big Roll Band'. Allen moved to London on 1 January 1964 with Andy Summers. He has played drums for many US and UK musicians including Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Memphis Slim, Solomon Burke, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Marc Bolan and T.Rex, Mick Taylor, Focus, Donovan, Stone The Crows, Georgie Fame, Brian Joseph Friel,^[2] and since 2006 The British Blues Quintet, with keyboardist Zoot Money, bassist Colin Hodgkinson and vocalist Maggie Bell.

Songwriting

Allen has also written and co-written songs which have been recorded by artists including Paul McCartney’s Wings (with music by Jimmy McCulloch), Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor and Mick Ronson. When co-writing he has mostly worked as a lyricist, as in Talyor's Alabama, from his solo debut Mick Taylor (1979).

References

1. ^ Zoot Money Zoot Money.org
2. ^ Colin Allen at Allmusic

External links

• British Blues Quintet official website
• Zoot Money official website

Persondata
Name	Allen, Colin
Alternative names
Short description	English blues drummer and songwriter
Date of birth	9 May 1938
Place of birth	Bournemouth, Hampshire, England
Date of death
Place of death