George E. Allen Sr., 87, a pioneering music teacher, musician, and author, passed away on Sunday, March 13 at this home in Wynnefield, writes Gary Miles for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Dr. Allen played the piano, clarinet and saxophone, and directed the Community College of Philadelphia Jazz Band for years.

His original work has been performed at local venues and he published his autobiography, I Was Not Asked: An African American Educator from Philadelphia Spreads His Love for Music, in 2013.

He taught music at Overbrook High School and was the School District of Philadelphia’s first Black chair of a high school magnet music department.

He also taught music classes at Community College of Philadelphia, Cabrini University, Cheyney University, and Lincoln University.

Dr. Allen told the Daily News in 2001, “You teach more than music. You teach life.”

Joe Sudler, a musician and band leader who is a former member of the CCP Jazz Band, said in 2001, “He’s led a lot of guys on the right path, be it players or teachers. I got a lot of good groundage and a lot of my ideas from George Allen.”

The Main Line Symphony Orchestra performed Dr. Allen’s Winter People, Summer People composition in 2023.

Read more about the life and legacy of musician and educator George E. Allen, Sr. in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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