Photo: Harald Krichel / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Marshall Allen, born on May 25, 1924 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is an oboist, jazz musician and saxophonist. As of 2026, Marshall Allen is 102 years old. Awards on record include Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2012).
My Take
Marshall Allen fascinates me as a living link to an entire lineage of avant-garde jazz. Best known for his decades with Sun Ra and for leading the Arkestra since 1995, he is the kind of artist who treats music as a lifelong vocation rather than a career. What I find moving is his sheer range: alto saxophone, flute, oboe, piccolo, even the EWI. To still be making sound well past the age most people retire feels almost defiant. I respect musicians who keep their flame burning that long, and his 2012 Pew Fellowship feels like a fitting nod to that endurance.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Marshall Allen
- Name (Japanese)
- マーシャル・アレン
- Reading
- まーしゃる・あれん
- Born
- May 25, 1924 (age 102)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Rat
- Origin
- Louisville, Kentucky, United States
- Occupation
- oboist / jazz musician / saxophonist / musician
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2012 Pew Fellowship in the Arts
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-23
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Marshall Allen born?
Born May 25, 1924 (age 102).
Where is Marshall Allen from?
Marshall Allen is from Louisville, Kentucky, United States.
What does Marshall Allen do?
Marshall Allen works as oboist, jazz musician, saxophonist, musician.
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