Allen Hunter Young, a nationally and internationally recognized musician and composer, died unexpectedly on May 6, 2011 in Delano, Minnesota. He was born on May 18, 1950 in Chicago, Ill.

He grew up in Barrington, Illinois and graduated from Barrington High School in 1968. He earned a BS in Music Education from Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois, where he played trumpet in the top band ensembles and the marching band.

With his long-time collaborator and partner he played with many bands during his career, including Morning After, Cash Money, Jamtrack, Michael Paul and the Capone AllStars, Rainbow Seekers, and most recently Al/Capone. He toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Lena Horn and Alan King shows. One of his recent recording projects, Mr. Smooth, produced by Jason Miles and featuring Alex Ligertwood and Dean Brown, reached number 43 on the Smooth Jazz charts, was number 1 in many national markets, and was featured on the front page of All That Jazz magazine, receiving international accolades.

He is survived by his wife, Kathie (nee Anderson) Young of Delano, Minnesota, stepchildren Jessica Clary, JoAnna and Willie Clarey, Jason Thompson, grandchildren Abbeygale and Ayden Clary, sister and brother-in-law Robert and Susan (nee Young) Parks of Oak Park, IL, nephews Ben and Ian Parks. He is also survived by his extended families, including Gennaro (“Jeep”) and Kathie Capone and their families, Joyce Anderson, Chuck Anderson, Julie Hyllsted, Susan Weise, Jim Anderson, and Cindy Anderson and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley H. Young and Jean L. Young (nee Allen) of Barrington, IL.

Memorials may be made to The Pet Project, which helps people keep their pets by providing food and basic supplies to those who are struggling (P.O. Box 6857 Minneapolis, MN 55406 www.thepetproject.org), or to PING!, whose mission is to make music instruction available to all children by providing musical instruments to low-income students (P.O. Box 1963, Oak Park, IL 60304 www.pingoprf.org).

Burial will be private. A celebration of Allen’s life was held in Amery, Wisconsin on May 10, 2011. A memorial service will be held in Rockford later this summer. Tributes can be posted at group page on Facebook: remembering allen young.