Obituary of Oswald L. Allen

Oswald Lee (Buddy) Allen was born March 26, 1936 in Fairhope Alabama to the late James Pondexter Allen and Sallie Jetson Allen.  Buddy was the second child of eight born to this union.  Buddy was the protector of the family, especially his sisters. He did not allow anyone to come around them growing up.  Along with his siblings, he was a member of Bethlehem Temple Church in Fairhope Alabama under the leadership of Elder Joe Houston.  Buddy was in charge of watching and making sure they were in church.  Buddy was baptized at Twin Beach Methodist Church where he was sprinkled, but after his sister Virginia told him he better go back and do it again, he was baptized at Bethlehem Temple in Fairhope Alabama in Jesus’ name - he wanted to make sure he had that right.

Buddy attended Baldwin County Training School, where he was called “Rabbit” and known for his athletic abilities in basketball and football.  After graduation he joined the Air Force and was stationed at West Hampton Beach, Long Island NY.  Buddy's passion was in music, and he left the Air Force to pursue his music career. 

Buddy was a lifelong musician listening and playing every kind of music, and started a band called Al and the Sky Scraper.  Later, along with his brothers Harrison and Cecil Allen, they became the Allen Brothers Band and they got their start as young boys playing in the Juke Joints in Alabama where they also got their experience.  The Allen Brothers played a lot of nightclubs in Sullivan County and had been playing in bands all of their adult lives.  The whole family was musical, and the church was a big part of their musical upbringing.

Buddy mastered in the saxophone, traveling abroad and across the United States performing and recording with artists such as Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, Bobby Blue Bland, Lloyd Price, Ben E King, Sam Taylor, Fats Domino and Peg Leg Bates. 

Buddy is survived by his brother Cecil Allen (Monticello NY); his sister Virginia Allen Smith (Monticello, NY. ); his daughter Sharon Pratt (Gregory) Poughkeepsie NY; three sons Oswald Lee (Butch) Allen Jr. (Riverhead NY),  Todd Davis and Earl Allen (both of Monticello); four granddaughters: Delisia, Shirkela, Chardae Dean and Gwendolyn Fuller; two grandsons Jamil and Jamal Davis; four great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.   He also leaves to cherish his memories close friends and extended family Myrtle McKinney, Patricia McKinney, Anthony McKinney (Janine), and Kendra (Pierre) Williams.

Buddy was predeceased by his mother Sallie Allen, father James P Allen, brothers: James Allen, Harrison Allen and Wyan Rochelle Allen, and his sisters Annie Allen Bolden and Leona Allen.