SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: AN INTERVIEW WITH DUANE ALLEN OF THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
SOUTHERN GOSPEL SPOTLIGHT PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH DUANE ALLEN OF THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
Duane Allen is no stranger in the field of Southern Gospel Music. This legendary lead singer has been singing Gospel music for decades most notably with Gospel and Country powerhouse The Oak Ridge Boys since 1966. Allen and The Oak Ridge Boys are one of the most popular groups of all time in Country music and perform to sold out crowds all over the nation. While the Oaks are primarily a Country Music group, they still remain true to their roots in Southern Gospel. Duane Allen is an incredible vocalist who can deliver a lyric with great emotion and warmth in his voice. I contacted Mr. Allen recently via Facebook for this interview and he graciously accepted. I couldn’t believe that he responded back to me and agreed to do this!
So without further ado, here is the interview:
J. Gilmore: How did you get your start in Southern Gospel/Country music?
D. Allen: MY FAMILY MEMBERS WERE VERY MUSICAL, AND WE SANG AT CHURCH, SCHOOL FUNCTIONS AND AT PUBLIC EVENTS.....WHEN I WAS 15, MY FAMILY WAS SINGING AT A CHURCH WHEN I WAS OFFERED A JOB SINGING IN A NEW GROUP IN PARIS, TEXAS...THE SOUTHERNAIRS....I SANG WITH THEM FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS......
J. Gilmore: Wow! You have been singing for quite a while!! Who are your musical influences?
D. Allen: I WAS INFLUENCED BY THE HARMONY GROUPS.....THE GREAT GOSPEL GROUPS, THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS, THE DOO-WAP GROUPS AND THE GREAT BLACK GOSPEL AND R&B GROUPS.....ANY ACT THAT SANG HARMONY GOT MY ATTENTION....
J. Gilmore: Great! Nothing like good harmony! Who is your favorite singer in Gospel or secular music?
D. Allen: I NEVER WAS ONE TO WORSHIP OR IDOLIZE ANY SINGER, I JUST LOVED THOSE SINGERS WHO SANG CORRECTLY AND WITH PASSION AND CONVICTION....THAT IS WHY I WENT TO UNIVERSITY AND STUDIED MUSIC SO THAT I COULD LEARN TO SING CORRECTLY.....
J. Gilmore: Who are your favorite groups? Past or present
D. Allen: I LOVED THE OAK RIDGE BOYS BEFORE I JOINED THE GROUP....I LOVED THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS....I LOVED THE PLATTERS....I LOVED THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET.....
J. Gilmore: Those old groups were great! They still live on through things like YouTube which is where people my age can see them! The Oak Ridge Boys are one of my favorite groups singing today! What is your favorite song to sing?
D. Allen: FOR ME TO TAKE A LEAD ON A SONG, I HAVE TO OWN THE MESSAGE....SO, ANY SONG ABOUT GOD, TRUE LOVE, OR SOME HAPPENING THAT AFFECTS THE LISTENER IN SOME WAY, IS MY FAVORITE SONG I LOVE TO SING.....
J. Gilmore: That’s awesome! That should be the reason why people sing: a powerful message that resonates with the listener. What is your favorite Scripture verse?
D. Allen: JOHN 3:16
J. Gilmore: Great word! What is something that people might not know about you?
D. Allen: I RE-HAB ABUSED MUSTANGS ON MY FARM....I COLLECT OLD ANTIQUE CARS.....
J. Gilmore: That’s awesome!! Tell me about the early days of the Oak Ridge Boys.
D. Allen: I JOINED THE OAK RIDGE BOYS IN 1966.....BY THE EARLY 70'S WE HAD WON JUST ABOUT EVERY AWARD THAT CAN BE WON BY A GOSPEL GROUP....WE SANG ONLY GOSPEL SONGS FOR THE FIRST 11 YEARS OF MY FIRST YEARS WITH THE OAKS.....
J. Gilmore: That’s incredible!! The Oak Ridge Boys are one of the biggest Country groups in American history with an impressive 40 years of performing. What do you believe is the reason for your great success?
D. Allen: WE LOVE SINGING TOGETHER....WE WORK HARD TO PROVIDE GREAT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THOSE WHO COME TO SEE US....WE HAVE BUILT A HUGE FAN BASE OF SOME OF THE BEST FANS ON EARTH....
J. Gilmore: And I’m in that fan base for sure! What has been the best part of traveling with the Oaks all these years?
D. Allen: THE BEST PART OF SINGING THESE DAYS WITH THE OAK RIDGE BOYS IS THAT WE SEE FULL HOUSES ON ALMOST ALL OF OUR CONCERTS.....WE ARE AMAZED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE STILL COME OUT TO SEE AND HEAR OUR MUSIC.....
J. Gilmore: Good music lasts! What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your years of singing Gospel/Country music?
D. Allen: THE MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT WAS AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN ST. LOUIS, MO...WE WERE ASKED TO VISIT CHILDREN IN THE CRITICAL CARE SECTION....WE WERE TOLD OF ONE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS PARALYZED AND COULD ONLY MOVE HIS EYELIDS.....WE WERE TOLD THAT IF HE LIKED SOMETHING HE WOULD BLINK HIS EYELIDS....SO, WHEN WE SANG "ELVIRA" FOR HIM, HIS EYES BLINKED SO FAST THAT IT JUST TORE ME UP....WE WERE TAPING THE VISIT FOR "CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK" SO, I DUCKED OUT OF THE SHOT, DURING JOE'S VERSES, SO PEOPLE COULD NOT SEE ME CRYING....I GATHERED MYSELF AND GOT BACK IN THE ROOM FOR THE CHORUS.....
J. Gilmore: Wow! Country music recently lost a true legend Little Jimmy Dickens. What is your fondest memory of him?
D. Allen: LITTLE JIMMY WAS OUR DEAR FRIEND....HE IS THE PERSON WHO INVITED THE OAK RIDGE BOYS TO JOIN THE GRAND OLE OPRY....EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT A TALL MAN, I CALLED HIM THE "GENTLE GIANT", BECAUSE, TO US, HE WAS......
J. Gilmore: Any advice for aspiring Gospel or Country artists?
D. Allen: DREAM YOUR DREAMS, DREAM BIG, APPLY A BUSINESS MODEL TO YOUR DREAMS, AND GO TO WORK SINGING EVERY TIME YOU GET THE CHANCE....NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, SING.....SOMEONE WILL HEAR......
J. Gilmore: Great advice!! What can fans expect from the mighty Oaks this year?
D. Allen: WE HAVE JUST RECORED A NEW HYMNS ALBUM, OUR VERY FIRST HYMNS ALBUM...IT IS CALLED "ROCK OF AGES".....THERE ARE SOME OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST HYMNS AND A FEW SURPRISES ON THIS ALBUM.....IT IS RELEASED IN MARCH AT CRACKER BARREL AND ALL OF THE OTHER OUTLETS IN MAY.....
J. Gilmore: Looking forward to it! Thanks for your time!
D. Allen: YOU ARE WELCOME.....AND THANKS TO ALL OF THE MANY FANS AND FRIENDS OF THE OAK RIDGE BOYS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US FOR SO MANY YEARS......WE ARE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR BLESSING OUR LONG CAREER AND FOR BLESSING US ALL WITH GOOD HEALTH TO CONTINUE.....THANK YOU GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!!
Be looking for a review of their upcoming project on the blog soon!! A review copy is being provided!! (Thank you to Duane Allen, The Oaks, and Gaither Music Group).
For more information on Duane and The Oak Ridge Boys, visit their website: http://oakridgeboys.com/