Archie Alleyne

Archie Alleyne

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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