Kirby Allan

Kirby Allan
Birth name Sidney Allen Pittman
Born (1928-01-12)January 12, 1928
Prescott, Arkansas, U.S.
Died June 16, 2011(2011-06-16) (aged 83)
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Genres Exotica
Occupation(s) Record Producer
Labels Bacchus Archives
Dot Records
MAZE Records
Omega Records
Score Records
Tampa Records
Verve Records

Kirby Allan (born Sidney Allen Pittman, January 12, 1928 – June 16, 2011) was an American record producer who is best remembered for his work with Chaino, in the musical genre of Exotica, and the Jungle variant of Tiki culture music. Their collaboration and unusual marketing strategy began with a series of albums in the late 1950s. Those albums (and singles from them) continue to be released as recently as 2016.[1]

Early life

Allan was born on January 12, 1928, in Prescott, Arkansas, to John Allen Pittman and Nettie Anne Stivers-Pittman. He was a World War II veteran who served as a medic in the United States Army. After his military discharge, Allan used his GI Bill to enter the Chicago Conservatory of Music, and he began singing in various Chicago night clubs.[2]

Career

Allan moved to Hollywood during the early 1950's, where he established MAZE Records.[3] He wrote and performed songs such as "Don't You Remember", "My Life, My Love, My All", "Never, Never, Never", "More Bounce To the Ounce", and "Mother Don't 'Llow Rock'n'Roll".[4][5][6] He enjoyed a successful career as a nightclub singer and producer, but in the late 1950's, he traveled to Africa, and became enamored with the ceremonial sounds that were used by various tribes of Kenya, and the Gold Coast. His love for this 'Exotica' led him to 'produce' the ceremonial drumming he'd heard.

Upon returning to the United States from Africa, Allan sought out a performer with whom he could produce a sound that was similar, but which was more marketable to American consumers. It was during this search that Allan met Leon Johnson, a bongo player who would come to be known as Chaino.[7] In the years between 1957 and 1959, Allan produced eight albums with Johnson, often at LA's legendary Gold Star Studios.[8]

Allan's production work with Johnson featured repeated, driving rhythms, savage cries, and tribal iconography that was; "intended to trigger the pagan fantasies of the listener".[9] Their first albums included Unbridled Passions Of Love's Eerie Spectre (1957), Jungle Mating Rhythms (1958), and Percussion for Primitive Lovers (1958).

As a marketing strategy, Allan designed LP album liner notes that told the story of 'Chaino'; "...an orphan from a lost tribe in Africa who was taken in by missionaries and brought to the U.S." Johnson was actually born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Allen's literary fiction was reason enough for one music critic to comment that "...(Johnson's)...association with Kirby Allan was a classic case of 1950s, pop marketing gone awry..," while also pointing out his opinion that; "...(Allen's)... albums can be hard to find but usually are good values."[10]

In June 1958, Billboard gave Eyes of the Spectre a four-star review and noted;

"A truly unusual sound can be heard on this album. Chaino turns in what amounts to a one-man show on a variety of bongos, congo drums, steel drums, gourds and assorted noisemakers, altho the label's sound work doesn't do it real justice. Rhythms are basically African or Afro-Cuban. In the background, Chaino whistles, wails and occasionally gives a blood-curdling whoop."[11]

Allan would go on to produce five more albums with Johnson. His last album of new material with him was Africana, recorded in 1959, though both Allan and Johnson had small roles as bongo players in Curtis Harrington's 1961 movie, Night Tide with Dennis Hopper, Linda Lawson, and Gavin Muir.[12]

Some interest in Exotica had waned by the early 1970's, but Allan continued to oversee the production of 'Chaino' compilations, re-releases, and cover versions for those who were still interested in the genre.[13] To further his efforts, Allan established the 'Exotica And Beyond' website,[14] and by 2008, three of Allan's LP album covers had received positive reviews on the 'LP Cover Lover' website.[15]

Allan moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1970, and while he remained active in the entertainment industry, he also became a real estate broker and investor. He developed an interest in local politics and he ran for mayor of Mesa, nine times.[16][17][18]

Death

Allan died in the early morning hours of June 16, 2011, while helping longtime companion Sigrid Dietrich, escape a fire that consumed his home in Mesa, Arizona.[19] His burial was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa. Allan had four children; Jeff, Marc, Monique and Patric.[20]

Legacy

Allan's productions have been reissued many times over the years and compilations that include his works were released as recently as 2016. Though originally produced on vinyl, much of his work has been re-released in modern formats (CD's) and can be found on various music download sites, such as 'iTunes' and 'Spotify'.[21]

In 1999, three of Allan's productions, "Breathing Bongos", "Slave Girl", and "Walking Bongos" were used in the movie, Forces of Nature.[22] In addition, websites that celebrate the Tiki Culture continue to provide resources and information about Allan's work.[23][24][25]

Discography

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Chaino And His African Percussion Safari: Jungle Echoes". ForcedExposure.com.
  2. ↑ "Remembering Kirby Allan: The Man Behind the Mystique". Anthony Sandoval - PhoenixNewsTimes.com.
  3. ↑ "MAZE Records Is New Indie Label". Billboard Mar 12, 1955. p. 26. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Special Release". Billboard Magazine (Nov 12, 1955). Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Allan, Kirby (RCS Artist Discography)". Terry E. Gordon - Rockin' Country Style - RCS-Discography.com.
  6. ↑ "Hillbilly Jukebox". Crystal Ball Records - CrystalballRecords.com (Track 14). Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ "The 101 strangest records on Spotify: Chaino - Kirby Allan presents ... Eye of the Spectre". Rob Fitzpatrick - Guardian News and Media Limited - TheGuardian.com.
  8. ↑ "Copyright Entries: Third series". Library of Congress (1959). Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mondo Exotica: Sounds, Visions, Obsessions of the Cocktail Generation". Francesco Adinolfi, Duke University Press, (April 4, 2008) p.105.
  10. ↑ "Afro-Pop & African Drums". Hyp Records Guide - HipWax.com (2nd paragraph.}
  11. ↑ "Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums". Billboard. June 2, 1958. p. 24.
  12. ↑ "Night Tide". Rick McGrath, Ajo Reviews - Culture.Court.com.
  13. ↑ "Chaino: Africana & Beyond!". All Media Network, LLC - AllMusic.com.
  14. ↑ "Exotica And Beyond". Kirby Allan - ExoticaAndBeyond.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Chaino Fools: 'Africana', 'Jungle Echoes', 'Eyes of the Spectre'". LP Cover Lover - LPCoverLover.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Mesa political activist Kirby Allan dies in house fire". Gary Nelson, The Arizona Republic - AZCentral.com (Jun. 16, 2011).
  17. ↑ "Allan, Kirby: Candidate Details". OurCampaigns.com.
  18. ↑ "Maricopa County Elections Dept., Official Write in Results: City of Mesa, Arizona" (PDF). Maricopa County Elections Dept. - Recorder.Maricopa.Gov (Election Date: March 9, 2004). Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Longtime Mesa gadfly Kirby Allan dies in house fire". Mike Sakal, East Valley Tribune - EastValleyTribune.com.
  20. ↑ "Kirby Allan Obituary". The Arizona Republic - Legacy.com (June 26, 2011). Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Releases". All Media Network, LLC - AllMusic.com.
  22. ↑ "Movies: Forces of Nature (1999), Full Production Credits". Janet Maslin, The New York Times, (March 19, 1999). Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  23. ↑ "History Of The Tiki". Tiki Bar Central - TikiBarCentral.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Chaino / Kava Kon: Tiki Exotica Music's Zombie Bamboos in the Zero Gravity Lounge". Forces Of Geek - ForcesOfGeek.com (August 31, 2009). Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Tiki: How sex, rum, World War II, and the brand-new state of Hawaii ignited a fad that has never quite ended". Wayne Curtis, American Heritage Publishing Company - AmericanHeritage.com (August/September 2006: Volume 57, Issue 4). Retrieved March 26, 2016.

External links

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