Biography
Ernestine Allen came into the world as a jazz-tinged blues singer and launched her recording career in 1945, later committing tracks such as "Miss Allen's Blues" and "Love For Sale" to tape under the name Annisteen Allen. She subsequently toured with Lucky Millinder, Big John Greer and Wynonie Harris. Federal Records engaged the complete Lucky Millinder Orchestra in 1951 to supply her vocal backing. Upon shifting to King, Federal’s parent company, in 1953, she cut "Baby I'm Doing It," which prompted Apollo Records to file a copyright-infringement suit against King. After King dropped her, Allen joined Capitol in 1954 and went on the road with The Orioles and Joe Morris and His Blues Cavalcade. The year 1955 brought her a hit in "Fujiyama Mama," a number Eileen Barton covered promptly and Wanda Jackson revisited later. Allen died at 71 in 1992.
Albums
