THE ALLEN BROTHERS

In 1959 Peter Allen went to Surfers Paradise to look for work and met Chris Bell, an English-born singer-guitarist of a similar age. Assisted by Bell’s father, and inspired by the chart-topping Everly Brothers, they formed a singing duo called the ‘Allen Brothers,’ making their debut at the Grand Hotel in Coolangatta. Within a year they were based in Sydney, had signed a recording contract with Pye, and reached a national audience through the television program Bandstand. They released their first single ''Bells Bells Bells'' in 1960 on Lee Gordon's label. In 1961 they supported Cliff Richard and The Shadows tour of Australia. The duo continued to release singles and some of them saw chart action.

The Allen Brothers toured around Australia and eventually in Asia. In 1964, Mark Herron, the husband of Judy Garland, discovered the Allen Brothers while they were performing in Hong Kong. They became Judy Garland's opening act when she toured. Charmed by Allen, Judy served as matchmaker between him and her daughter, Liza Minnelli which resulted in their marriage on 3 March 1967 in New York, Chris and Peter Allen, as they became known, performed in American nightclubs for the rest of the decade, releasing their only album in 1968 which wasn't released in Australia. They separated in 1970 when Allen acknowledged his homosexuality and were divorced in 1974. In 1970 Allen also parted ways with Chris Bell and pursued a very successful solo career. Peter Allen died in San Diego, California, on 18 June 1992 from an AIDS-related throat cancer. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea.

SINGLES (as The Allen Bothers)

''Bells, Bells, Bells / Summer Clouds'' 1960 Lee Gordon

''First Kiss / My Secret'' (#22) 1960 Pye
''Pretty Keen Teen (#26) / There's No Need'' 1960 Pye

''Ever Since / Too Much'' 1960 Pye
''No Hesitation (#33) / Knockin' On The Right Front Door'' [with The Barry Sisters] 1961 Pye

''No Foolin' (#96) / Be An Angel, Darling'' 1961 HMV
''Ain't Misbehavin' / There's Never Been A Girl Like You'' 1962 HMV
''Baby Loves Me / Firefly'' 1962 HMV

SINGLES (as Chris and Peter Allen)
''Middle Of The Street / I Owe Everything To You'' 1966 Ampar
''Ten Below / Just Friends'' 1968 Philips

References

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/allen-peter-17370

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/