Annisteen Allen

Biography

Annisteen Allen, (Ernestine Letitia Allen, November 11, 1920, Champaign, Illinois - August 10, 1992, Harlem, New York City) was an American blues singer.

Allens first recordings were made in 1945, and included "Miss Annies Blues" and "Love for Sale". She sang with Big John Greer, Wynonie Harris, and Lucky Millinder, and in 1951, Federal Records signed her to sing with Millinders orchestra. She scored other hits with Millinder such as "Ill Never Be Free", "Let It Roll", "Moanin the Blues", and "More, More, More". Federals parent company, King Records, acquired her in 1953, but after releasing "Baby Im Doing It", Apollo Records sued King for copyright infringement, and as a result King dropped her from its roster. She then signed with Capitol Records and did tours with Joe Morris and The Orioles. In 1955 she scored a hit in the U.S. with "Fujiyama Mama". She became a solo artist in the 1960s.

Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.