Bridgette Allen is a New Zealand-born jazz singer who has a career going back to the 1960s. She has appeared on television in both New Zealand and Australia. She also starred in the film Hooks and Feelers, which was an adaptation of a Keri Hulme story.

Background Allen was born in New Zealand, and is of Maori descent.Artist Trove Bridgette AllenThe Age, Friday, 12 February 1993 Page 37 She is also the cousin of the singer Abe Phillips who died in 1971.News article, November 25th 1971 BIG ABE HEADS THEM By Judy McGregorNew Zealand Woman's Weekly, 17 January 1972 Page 71

Career By April 1970, and with no major plans to return to Australia, Allen was now based in Auckland.Auckland Star, 14 April 1970 Bridgette Allen has now made Auckland her headquarters In 1971, having already worked in Bangkok, by late February she was in Tahiti. There were plans for her undertake an Australian tour, which she would co-compere with Howard Morrison to promote tourism.The New Zealand Herald, 27 February 1971 Allen is now in TahitiAuckland Star, 17 March 1971 Up-dated Maori group to lure In May, due to commitments in New Zealand, Allen turned down a contract as a supporting artist for Morrison in Honolulu.New Zealand Herald, 29 May 1971 Bridgette Allen had to turn down a contract It was reported in the 11 July issue of The Sunday News, that she was to stand in for Paul Fisher while he went with Ray Woolf to the United States, taking two months off of an eight month contract.The Sunday News July 1971 Hold on America - we're coming In April 1973, it was announced in the Sunday Herald that Allen was off to the United States as guest of Carmen McRae. She was also going to look at the possibilities or work over there.The Sunday Herald, 8 April 1973 Page 37

Mid 70s onwards In June 1975, she embarked on a cabaret tour which would include Australia, the Philippines and the possibly other locations such as Singapore.Auckland Star, 11 June 1975 Bridgette Allen has left for Australia In 1976, in spite of her comments the previous year that the club circuit was "pretty dead", and television work limited to Australian artists, in May, that year she was off to Australia to carry on with her career there.New Zealand Herald, 12 April 1975 Bridgette Allen has been studying the club scene in AustraliaNew Zealand Herald, 19 May 1976 Bound for Australia

1980s In 1981, The New Zealand Listener featured an article on her life and career in its 14 February issue.The New Zealand Listener, 14 February 1981 Article on the life and career of Bridgette Allen By September 1982, following the birth of her son, she had slowed her career down.New Zealand Woman's Weekly 20 September 1982 Page 20 - 21 By early 1987, she was based in Melbourne.The Auckland Star, 13 January 1987 Sec B p 1, 4, Background on New Zealand jazz singer now based in Melbourne

Discography + Albums Title Release info Year F Notes FeverakaCall me BridgetteNational Library of New Zealand Call me Bridgette (sound recording) / Bridgette Allen RCA Camden CAS 149 1972 LP Backing by Trinity: Mike Harvey - Piano,Billy Belton - Bass, Vic Williams - Drums

+ Appearances Artist (s) Title Release info Year tracks F Notes Various artists An evening at Tommo's Place Salem 1972 "On a Wonderful Day Like Today", "The Joker Went Wild", "Eight Days a Week""Agua De Beber", "If You Go Away", "Quando, Quando, Quando" LP Bridgette Allen lead vocalsNational Library of New Zealand An evening at Tommo's Place (sound recording) / Bridgette Allen, Ray Woolf, Martin Kini and the Trinity Tina Cross You Can Do It Phillips 6334017 1979 LP Backing VocalsDiscogs Tina Cross – You Can Do It

Filmography + TV and film Title Role Director / producer Year Type Notes The Club Show Herself, singer 1979 TV show Presenters Glyn Tucker and Ernie LeonardNZ On Screen The Club Show - 12 May 1979 Hooks and Feelers Mother Dr Melanie Rodriga (director) 1982 Film A 50 minute adaptation of a short story by Keri HulmeMurdoch University Dr Melanie Rodriga, Selected Publications –The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Catalogue → F6624, Hooks and Feelers

References

External links Website Artisttrove: Bridget Allen