Allegro was a very small record company based in Los Angeles operating from the early sixties to areound 1965. It is very hard to find details about this label. Thanks to L. A. Gospel announcer John Philips and gospel researcher Opal Louis Nations it was possible to gather at least some information.
According to a letter from Los Angeles Gospel DJ John Phillips to Armin Büttner, the "Allegro Recording and Music Studio" was run by one Dunlap J. Cawthron from 1955 to around 1965. Phillips told Gospel researcher Opal Louis Nations, that Cawthron had a day job as traveling government meat inspector. According to the Social Security Death Index, Dunlap J. Cawthron was born on August, 23, 1914. His card was issued in the state of Illinois. Cawthron passed away in Jackson, Rankin County, Mississipi on July 7, 2004.
Apparently Cawthron loved colored vinyl.
 |
| Dunlap J. Cawthron, unknown date. With kind permission of John Phillips. |
For his Allegro company, which he apparently ran besides his day job, Cawthron recorded ex chicago tenor saxophonist Claude McLin who at this stage of his career in the early sixties seemed to be trying hard to get into the jukeboxes - at least the local ones. Cawthron also recorded one 45rpm single by blues singer and guitarist Curtis C.C. Griffin. The largest part of the Allegro records catalogue however consists of Gospel as recorded by Zena Ayo, The Perry Trio and Vermya Phillips. The latter also had the honor of recording the only definitely known Allegro LP so far (There might also be an Allegro LP by the Perry trio).
Since every other record on Allegro seems to be in a different series regarding their numbers (and the typography changes slightly from issue to issue), it is very hard to get a sense of chronology. So I have decided to sort the listing by artist until further information can be gathered.
Up to now we have information about five Allegro singles by ex chicago tenor saxophonist Claude McLin. We are sure though, that there must be a sixth (Allegro 1461). More details about these recordings can be found in the Claude McLin discography at the Red Saunders Research Foundation.
 |
 |
|
| Allegro 1459-A and 1460-B are two sides of one 45 rpm record ... | ||
Claude McLin (ts -2, voc -1); unidentified (org); unidentified (eg); unidentified (b); unidentified (d).
Los Angeles, prob. 1962
| 1459-A | Misty -1 (Burke-Garner) | Allegro 1459-A | |
| 45-1460-A (in vinyl), 1460-B (on label) | Satin Doll -2^ (Ellington) | Allegro 1460-B | |
| 45-1460-B (in vinyl), 1460-A (on label) | Swinging Bag Pipes -2^ (McLin) | Allegro 1460-A, C&C 1460-A | |
| 1459-B | Happy Hop -2^ (McLin) | Allegro 1459-B, C&C 1459-B |
 |
 |
|
| ... as are Allegro 1459-B and 1460-A. This coupling (same matrix and issue numbers) also appeared on the label C&C. (same graphics, same P.O. Box) From the collection of Armin Büttner. |
||
 |
 |
|
| Allegro1462 from the collection of Armin Büttner. | ||
Claude McLin (ts -2, voc -1); unidentified (org- 3, p -4); unidentified (eg); unidentified (b); unidentified (d).
possibly C. P. McGregor Studios, Los Angeles, early 1960s
| ? | Allegro 1461? | ||
| ? | Allegro 1461? | ||
| CP-6519 | Kansas City ("Harrison") -1, 3 | Allegro 1462-A | |
| CP-6520 | The Growler (McLin) -2, 3 | Allegro 1462-B |
Note: A copy of Allegro 1461 still has to be found. But the otherwise missing issue number suggests that it existed.
 |
 |
|
| Allegro1463 from the collection of Armin Büttner | ||
Claude McLin (ts -2, voc -1); unidentified (org- 3, p -4); unidentified (eg); unidentified (b); unidentified (d).
possibly same session ?, Los Angeles, early 1960s
| 1463-A | I'm Breathless (Pierce D. Mathews)-1, 3# |
Allegro 1463-A | |
| 1463-B | Ruff (McLin)-2, 3# | Allegro 1463-B | |
| 1464-A | You Are Nobody until Somebody Loves You -1, 3% (Morgan-Stock-Cavanaugh) | Allegro 1464-A | |
| 1464-B | More Than You Know -1, 4% (Eliscu-Rose-Youmans) | Allegro 1464-B |
 |
 |
|
| Allegro 1464 from the collection of Armin Büttner. | ||
 |
| Allegro 3001 from the collection of Armin Büttner |
Los Angeles, early 1960s
| 45-# 3001 A (C) | Walk With Me (traditional) -1, -2 | Allegro 3001-A | |
| 45-# 3001 B (C) | There'll Be Sunshine After The Rain (Janie M. Cawthron) -1 | Allegro 3001-B | |
| COOK-3002 | Those Golden Bells-1 (Rose M. Perry) | Allegro 3002 | |
| COOK-3003 | I See Him-1, 2 (Janie M. Cawthron) | Allegro 3003 | |
| unidentified tracks | Allegro LP? |
 |
 |
|
| Note that what apparently is the second Allegro issue by the Perry Trio carries two different issue numbers. From the collection of Armin Büttner. | ||
Original information about Allegro 3001 from Bob McGrath's "The R&B Indies". Detailed information from a copy now in the collection of Armin Büttner. According to the label, this record is part of the "Religious Series". A second 45rpm by the Perry Trio was found by Armin Büttner in a second hand record shop in Berne, Switzerland in spring 2007. It was pressed on black vinyl and carries two different issue numbers (3002/ 3003).
John Phillips does not remember anything about the Perry Trio but is sure, that they made an entire LP for Allegro. Further information is very much welcome!
Janie M. Cawthron, composer of "There'll Be Sunshine After The Rain and "I See Him" (and some other songs recorded on Allegro) was label owner Dunlap J. Cawthron's mother. John Phillips told Opal Louis Nations (in oct. 2008) that Janie M. Cawthron hailed from Chicago. The Social Security Death Index mentions a Janie Cawthron who was born on November 27, 1888. Her card was issued in Michigan and she passed away in Chicago in May 1975. In 1985 Dunlap J. Cawthron published a collection of poems and other texts by his mother, "The legacy of Janie M. Cawthron" (Cawthron Enterprises, ASIN: B0007266L8) - to be researched. "There'll Be Sunshine After The Rain" as sung by Vermya Phillips was later recorded by Dunlap J. Cawthron for the Credence label, also Cawthron's enterprise (see appendix).
Note that judging from the typography of the label (and the hue of the red wax) Allegro 3001 might have been released around the same time as Claude McLin's Allegro 1463. A second 45rpm by the Perry trio was found by Armin Büttner in a second hand record shop in Berne, Switzerland in spring 2007. This one is pressed on black vinyl and carries two different issue numbers (3002/ 3003).
 |
| From the collection of Armin Büttner |
At an unknown date, Dunlap J. Cawthron attended a program John Phillips had put together in an L. A. church and asked him to produce gospel singer Zena Ayo for him. Cawthron had seen Ayo sing the national anthem at the Dodgers Stadium and wanted to record her (information from Opal Louis Nations). So apparently the Zena Ayo tracks were recorded before Cawthron recorded John Phillips' wife, Vermya Phillips (see below).
 |
| Allegro 1602 from an online auction in 2005 |
Los Angeles, 1962 or later
| 1601-A | How Great Thou Art | Allegro 1601-A | |
| 1601-B | Somebody He Can Use | Allegro 1601-B | |
| ?? | You Can't Make It Alone (Janie M. Cawthron) | Allegro 1602-A | |
| ?? | Touch Me | Allegro 1602-B |
Information about Allegro 1601 from Bob McGrath's "The R&B Indies". Information about Allegro 1602 from an online auction. Note that the Dodgers Stadium (where Dunlap J. Cawthron first heard Zena Ayo sing) opened in 1962.
 |
 |
|
|
Vermya and John Phillips doing broadcasts at Radio KTYM (1958). Photos taken from http://jvpromotions.com with kind permission from John Phillips.
|
||
 |
| Vermya Phillips with The Robin-Aires, unknown date. Third from left in the back row is Bessie Anderson, wife of Jessie Anderson (fourth from left in the back row) who directed the Tabor Senior Choir, from which the Robin-Aires were drawn. Front row from left to right: John Phillips, Vermya Phillips and Dunlap J. Cawthron. The other persons remain unidentified. Photograph and identification courtesy of John Phillips. |
Los Angeles, early 1960s
| AR-9777 | There's Not A Friend Like Jesus (Roberta Martin) | Allegro 9001, Kris K8150 (CD) | |
| AR-9778 | Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Lange-Heath-Burke) | Allegro 9002 | |
| ???? | Precious Memories | Allegro ???? | |
| ???? | unidentified title | Allegro ???? | |
| ???? | He's a Friend Of Mine-1 (K. Morris) | Allegro ????, Kris K8150 (CD) | |
| ???? | unidentified title | Allegro ???? |
The liner notes of Vermya Phillips' Allegro LP (see below) convey that Vermya Phillips started singing as a child at a Baptist church in Franklin, Texas. Vermya and her sisters then formed a quintet and traveled the state with them. She moved to Waco, Texas and became a soloist with Toliver's Chapel Baptist Church while attending Paul Quinn College. She moved on to singing with The Echoes of Toliver Chapel Singers and traveled with them extensively. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she joined the Tabor Baptist and became a leading soloist with the senior choir.
 |
| The Robin-Aires, unknown date. Second woman from left is Vermya Phillips. On the far right are Bessie Anderson and her husband Jessie Anderson. Photograph from the collection of of Opal Louis Nations |
 |
| John and Vermya Phillips around 2000. Photo with kind permission from John Phillips. |
 |
| The Dave Weston Singers, unknown date. (back row, left to right): unidentified, Esther Coleman, soprano, James Ervin, second tenor, Dave C. Weston, baritone/director, Grace Bryant, alto, and Robin or Willis Tate, tenor (Robin's name was used for the naming of the Robin-Aires). Front row from left to right: Dunlap J. Cawthron, Vermya Phillips and John Phillips . Photo with kind permission from John Phillips. |
"Bro. Henderson's Studio", Slauson and Normandie, and another studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, probably 1963
| Have you ever Tried Walking by Faith? (J. Irving) | Allegro ALM 1189/1190, Kris K8150 (CD) | ||
| I'm Going Trough | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| Somebody He Can Use (Janie M. Cawthron) (no DWS) | Allegro ALM 1189/1190, Kris K8150 (CD) | ||
| His Hand Is Outstretched Still | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| Danny Boy | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| If Jesus Goes With Me | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| Precious Lord | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| We Gotta Job To Do | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| My Choice | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| Marvel Not | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| I See Him | Allegro ALM 1189/1190 | ||
| Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray (trad.) | Allegro ALM 1189/1190, Kris K8150 (CD) |
Dunlap J Cawthron also recorded Vermya Phillips for a label called Credence in the late sixties. The title of the Credence LP is "Sunshine after Rain" - see Appendix.
 |
| The Dave Weston Singers, unknown date. Back row: unidentified, Esther Coleman, soprano, James Ervin, second tenor, Grace Bryant, alto, and Robin or Willis Tate, tenor. Front: Dave C. Weston, baritone/director. From the collection of Opal Louis Nations. |
 |
| The gorgeous Allegro 2001 from the collection of Victor Pearlin. |
Los Angeles, 1964
| 2001-A | I Do Believe (C. C. Griffin) | Allegro 2001-A | |
| 2001-B | Sitting Here Waiting (C. C. Griffin) | Allegro 2001-B |
 |
| Allegro 2001 from the collection of Victor Pearlin |
Credence LP 1191 from the collection of Armin Büttner
Credence Recording & Music Studio (see note), Los Angeles, late 1960s
| There'll Be Sunshine After the Rain (Janie M. Cawthron) | Credence LP 1191, Kris K8150 (CD) | ||
| Touch Somebody's Life (Raymond Rasberry) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| He Chose Me (Janie M. Cawthron) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| I Know Who Holds Tomorrow (Ira Stanphill) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| Call Him Anytime (Janie M. Cawthron) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| If Jesus Goes With Me We'll Understand It Better (composer unknown) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| Jesus Is Real To Me (composer unknown) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| Oh Lord What Is Next (Janie M. Cawthron) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| The Little Wooden Church (Thomas A. Dorsey) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| Let Go Let God (Juanita J. Smith) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| I'll Tell It Everywhere I Go (Thomas A. Dorsey) | Credence LP 1191 | ||
| He's Everywhere (Doris Akers) | Credence LP 1191 |
© jazzdocumentation 2008
Any further information about the Allegro label will be welcome. Please mail to abuettner (at) woz.ch