Died On This Date (March 30, 2011) Harley Allen / Country Singer & Songwriter
themusicsover Harley Allen
June 23, 1956 – March 30, 2011
Harley Allen was a country singer and highly sought-after songwriter. Born to bluegrass legend Red Allen in Dayton, Ohio, Allen eventually landed in Nashville and began releasing a string of albums with his brothers, the Allen Brothers, and on his own. In 2002, his voice could be heard on the Grammy-winning “Man Of Constant Sorrow” from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. As an in-demand songwriter, Allen penned or co-wrote charting records for the likes of Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss and many many more. His “The Baby” ended up being a huge hit for Blake Shelton. Harley Allen died of lung cancer on March 30, 2011. He was 55.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums
Red Allen was a respected bluegrass singer and guitarist. Born in eastern Kentucky, Allen wound up in Dayton, Ohio where during the early ’50s, he formed his first band, the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys. In 1956, he joined the Osbourne Brothers, one of bluegrass music’s most influential groups. Allen can be heard on their “Ruby” and “Ho Honey Ho.” He left the group in 1958. Over the course of his career, Allen played on numerous records, either fronting his own band or as part of other groups. In 2005, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame. His sons included fellow bluegrass and country musician,