A00519 - Archie Alleyne, African Canadian Jazz Drummer

Archie Alleyne (January 7, 1933 – June 8, 2015) was a Canadian jazz drummer.^[1] Best known as a drummer for influential jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, he was also prominent as a recording artist on his own and with Canadian jazz musicians such as Oliver Jones, Cy McLean and Brian Browne.^[2]

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario,^[1] Alleyne became the house drummer at the Town Tavern jazz club in his 20s.^[1]

Involved in a serious car accident in 1967, he stepped away from music for a number of years,^[1] becoming a partner in a soul food restaurant in Toronto.^[1] He returned to music in the early 1980s with Jones' band.^[2]

In later life he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada,^[2] established the Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund to provide bursaries to music students,^[3] and wrote Colour Me Jazz: The Archie Alleyne Story, an autobiography slated for future publication.^[1]

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Archie Alleyne (January 7, 1933 – June 8, 2015) was a Canadian jazz drummer. Best known as a drummer for influential jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, he was also prominent as a recording artist on his own and with Canadian jazz musicians such as Oliver Jones, Cy McLean and Brian Browne. 

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Alleyne became the house drummer at the Town Tavern jazz club in his 20s.

Involved in a serious car accident in 1967, he stepped away from music for a number of years, becoming a partner in a soul food restaurant in Toronto. He returned to music in the early 1980s with Jones' band.

In later life,, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, established the Archie Alleyne Scholarship Fund to provide bursaries to music students, and wrote Colour Me Jazz: The Archie Alleyne Story, an autobiography.