In 1926, Jap Allen, on tuba, was still a member of Paul Banks's band, now named Paul Banks's Syncopating Orchestra,[2] with Clifton Banks on alto sax, Miles Pruitt or Ira Kinley on banjo, Robert Moody or Ben Simpson on trombone, James Everett on drums, and Ed Lewis on trumpet.
[2] In the late 1920s, Allen was leading his own band in Kansas City, which included Joe Keys (Keyes) on trumpet, Clyde Hart on piano, and Ben Webster on tenor sax.
[3] Shortly thereafter, Jap Allen's Cotton Pickers, still with Webster, Hart, and Keys, now had Jim "Daddy" Walker on guitar, and Slim Moore on trombone.
[1] In 1930, Jap Allen's Cotton Club Orchestra featured Joe Keyes, Ben Webster, Jim "Big Daddy" Walker, Clyde Hart, Slim Moore, Raymond Howell on drums,[4] Eddie "Orange" White, Al Denny, O.C.
[5] A later line-up, Jasper Allen's Southern Troubadours, were pitted against Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy[1] competing at a "battle of the bands" during National Music Week, organised by the American Federation of Musicians.