09/12/2026
Episode 35 - Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight with Duane Allen from the legendary group The Oak Ridge Boys is out now on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube.
Welcome back to Behind the Shedd! Well, we have another legend on this episode. Harold, Russ, and Wade sit down with Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys. Duane has been a friend to Harold and Russ for decades. Let's have a seat with him and listen to his remarkable journey to the Oaks and hear about his incredible life and career. Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Duane Allen..
BIO:
A native of Taylortown, Texas, Duane (“Ace”) Allen had formal training in both operatic and quartet singing before becoming a member of the Oaks in 1966. He is a member of the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has written a book on the history of Gospel music. He also holds an honorary doctorate from a Christian college.
Duane graduated from Paris Junior College, and then Texas A&M University at Commerce, Texas. He received a B.S. in Music from Texas A&M, studying with Metropolitan Opera stars Richard Webb and William Abbott. For his classical music degree, Duane concentrated on voice, piano, and composition. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from both Paris Junior College and Texas A&M in 2017. He and his wife Norah Lee underwrite a scholarship fund for Texas A&M University Department of Music students.
During the time he studied at Paris Junior College, two operettas were written based on Duane’s life—one entitled “College Go Round” and the other entitled “Let’s See Paree (Paris).” He received a music scholarship to Texas A&M, and, while he was a student there, he starred in a lead role of “Annie Get Your Gun.” He also sang in an elite chorale group, which toured through the United States, as well as internationally.
In 2014, Duane received a special honor from his hometown community of Cunningham, Texas. On April 15, Lamar County officials dedicated the Duane Allen Memorial Bridge on the newly designated Duane Allen Road. The bridge crosses the Big Sandy Creek just a few hundred yards from where Duane was born and raised on the Allen family farm. While in Lamar County for the event, Duane and Norah Lee presented a check to the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial in Paris, Texas. Proceeds were used to support the memorial and to honor family members who had served in the military.
On August 9, 2014, Duane was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony that included fellow members of The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban as honorary inductees. An Oak Ridge Boys’ exhibit at the Hall of Fame was unveiled the same day. -OakRidgeBoys.com
Thanks to our Behind the Shedd Members on Patreon. Ron Ledet - Stacy Shedd - Kay Wilson
Patreon episode supporter, Richie Ferguson
Behind the Shedd podcast is a weekly podcast series available on all major podcast platforms. This podcast relives music row memories from Nashvilles most successful independent music producer, Harold Shedd. Harold owned and operated the Music Mill Studio on Roy Acuff Place in Nashville and was later head of Mercury Records Nashville.
Created by Wm. Wade Smith.
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