Duane David Allen (born April 29, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter, who had formal training in both operatic and quartet singing before becoming a member of

the Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American vocal quartet. The classic and most well-known lineup of the group, which performed together for over 40 years, consisted of William Lee Golden (baritone), Duane Allen (lead), Richard Sterban (bass), and Joe ...

in 1966. Allen is the lead singer for the quartet and is heard on the majority of their most successful songs. Allen was inducted into the

Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amass ...

in 2015 as a member of the Oak Ridge Boys.

Biography

Allen attended

East Texas State University East Texas A&M University (ETAMU; formerly Texas A&M University–Commerce) is a public university in Commerce, Texas, United States. With an enrollment of over 12,000 students as of fall 2017, the university is the third-largest institution in ...

, graduating in 1966, where he was a member of

Delta Tau Delta Delta Tau Delta () is a United States–based international Greek letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1858. The fraternity currently has around 130 collegiate chapt ...

International Fraternity. Allen is considered president and CEO of the Oak Ridge Boys. He is active on social media and feels an obligation to respond quickly to fans. Allen also plans out how many tour dates are needed each year for his employees to live comfortably. Allen was inducted in the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Honors

In 2014, Allen received a memorial bridge honor in his hometown in Texas. "I did not know until our bus turned down the small road that the bridge was on ‘our’ road," the singer said. "It was a complete surprise. I thought it would be south of our place, but when we turned down ‘our’ road, now named the Duane Allen Road, my stomach just about came out of my body. I was so thrilled that I did not have the proper words to express myself. I was still emotionally charged when I tried to speak.”

Personal life

Allen resides in

Hendersonville, Tennessee Hendersonville is the most populous city in Sumner County, Tennessee, on Old Hickory Lake. As of the 2020 census the city's population was 61,753. Hendersonville is the fourth-most populous city in the Nashville metropolitan area after Nas ...

. He was married to Norah Lee Allen, a backup singer on the

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...

; she died in 2024. Their daughter Jamie is married to musician Paul Martin, formerly of

Exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

, and of

Marty Stuart John Marty Stuart (born September 30, 1958) is an American country music, country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before be ...

's band, the Fabulous Superlatives. The Martins formed a family band with their children called Rockland Road. Son Dee is also a musician; both Paul Martin and he have performed with the Oak Ridge Boys.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Duane 1943 births Living people People from Lamar County, Texas Country musicians from Texas American country singer-songwriters The Oak Ridge Boys members East Texas A&M University alumni Singer-songwriters from Texas