In Part 1 of our interview series with long-time member of the Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen, we covered a lot of ground, including the musical evolution of his group since its gospel-roots inception in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1943; practical joking among group members on the tour bus; memories of the first time Allen heard one of his songs on the juke box; Allen’s work with other musicians including Paul Simon, Johnny Cash and Phil Ramone; who he still wants to work with in the music business and what it’s like playing to audiences in a communist country. Here, in Part 2, we focus on Allen’s spiritual side, celebritydom, touring at age 79, when it’s time to retire and more. Following are edited excerpts from a longer conversation at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville on Christmas Day, 2022.
Jim Clash: You’ve had an amazing life. Have you ever thought about writing a book?
Duane Allen: I wrote a book on gospel music back in the seventies. But about my life? It’s not over yet [laughs]. I wouldn’t know what the last chapter would be. I’ve got files and files, and have about seven offers on the table. But all of those offers want me to do autograph sessions to sell the book. I’d probably sign a deal with the first one that knows how to sell books without asking me to do their work for them. But all of the other [Oak Ridge] Boys have written books.
Clash: Do you ever get recognized on the street?
Allen: Not as often as William Lee Golden, the one with the long beard. If you want to see somebody recognized, just walk behind him in an airport. They may think he’s Leon Russell or [a member of] ZZ Top, but they know he’s somebody [laughs]. I do get recognized sometimes, and that’s a pleasure, and I always say, “thank you.” I never turn down anybody for an autograph unless they’re rude. I’ve never liked a rude person, even when I was picking cotton in Texas.
In Part 1 of our interview series with long-time member of the Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen, we covered a lot of ground, including the musical evolution of his group since its gospel-roots inception in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1943; practical joking among group members on the tour bus; memories of the first time Allen heard one of his songs on the juke box; Allen’s work with other musicians including Paul Simon, Johnny Cash and Phil Ramone; who he still wants to work with in the music business and what it’s like playing to audiences in a communist country. Here, in Part 2, we focus on Allen’s spiritual side, celebritydom, touring at age 79, when it’s time to retire and more. Following are edited excerpts from a longer conversation at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville on Christmas Day, 2022.
Jim Clash: You’ve had an amazing life. Have you ever thought about writing a book?
Duane Allen: I wrote a book on gospel music back in the seventies. But about my life? It’s not over yet [laughs]. I wouldn’t know what the last chapter would be. I’ve got files and files, and have about seven offers on the table. But all of those offers want me to do autograph sessions to sell the book. I’d probably sign a deal with the first one that knows how to sell books without asking me to do their work for them. But all of the other [Oak Ridge] Boys have written books.
Clash: Do you ever get recognized on the street?
Allen: Not as often as William Lee Golden, the one with the long beard. If you want to see somebody recognized, just walk behind him in an airport. They may think he’s Leon Russell or [a member of] ZZ Top, but they know he’s somebody [laughs]. I do get recognized sometimes, and that’s a pleasure, and I always say, “thank you.” I never turn down anybody for an autograph unless they’re rude. I’ve never liked a rude person, even when I was picking cotton in Texas.
Clash: Did you ever think you would still be touring at age 79?
Allen: No. When I was going to college, I got a degree and a teacher’s certificate. I taught so that I would have a fallback. Back when I was in school, people were not lasting that long in groups, or in the business, period. I never dreamed it would last this long. I’ve been with the group 57 years in April. We deal with our health problems, no matter what they are, and we have a few issues that men of age have. We’re like old used cars. During COVID-19, I got a lot of things fixed.
Clash: Such as?
Allen: Well, I got a new foot. It has two plates and 17 screws in it. I broke it playing in a charity basketball game when I was 50, 29 years ago, and I never had time to get it fixed. I just manned through. My doctor told me that someday I’d need surgery. During the pandemic, when they finally allowed operations that were not mandatory to be performed, I was the first person operated on by the doctor who takes care of the group.
Clash: Do you ever worry that your voice will crack in a live performance? I mean, you four are out-front, exposed.
Allen: It has happened, and I get embarrassed when it does. At my age, I have to work on every note, every annunciation, beforehand until it’s right. I don’t want to miss anything. I’m not a perfectionist, but I do my best to do better than the night before. I’m my own biggest competition. As for the group, we are a bunch of independently minded, different men, but when we get together we all contribute to the one. It’s like four Peterbilt trucks coming right at you on the interstate – full voice, four-part harmony – not too close, pretty and tight, but full-blast.
Clash: When will you know it’s time to quit?
Allen: When God tells me. I’m a praying man. I believe that God has a purpose for all of us. I don’t have to go to church to get his direction. He hears everything I’m saying, even right now. God made everything we see, hear and feel, therefore he’s always here. When he says it’s time, it’s time.
