Richard "Pistol" Allen
Background information
Birth nameHoward Richard Allen
Born(1932-08-13)August 13, 1932
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 2002(2002-06-30) (aged 69)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresSoul
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1959–2002

Howard Richard "Pistol" Allen (August 13, 1932 – June 30, 2002) was an American musician, most notable as a Motown session drummer with The Funk Brothers.[1]

History

Allen was the primary recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band on most of Holland-Dozier and Holland's hit productions of the 1960s.[2][3] Hits for which Allen played the drums include "Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder, "The Way You Do the Things You Do" by The Temptations, "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Baby Love" by The Supremes, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, and "Reach Out I'll Be There" by the Four Tops.

Allen's influences included Max Roach, Buddy Rich, and fellow Funk Brother Benny Benjamin. He played a studio set made up of Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers and Gretsch components and likely Zildjian cymbals.

Although he appeared in Standing in the Shadows of Motown, the 2002 documentary about the Funk Brothers, Allen died of cancer in June 2002 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 69, a little over four months before the completed film was released.[4]

Allen was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the Funk Brothers.

Discography

With James Carter

References

  1. ↑ Pinkney, Andrea Davis (2015). Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound. Roaring Brook Press pg.71. ISBN 978-1-5964-3973-3.
  2. ↑ "Uriel Jones: One of the Funk Brothers and the last of the great Motown drummers". The Independent. March 26, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ Zollo, Paul (April 3, 2020). "Behind The Song: The Supremes, "Where Did Our Love Go"". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ Fuchs, Cynthia (November 29, 2002). "Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)". PopMatters. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
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