* En anglais uniquement
The son of noted bluegrass musician
Red Allen, who had performed with the trio Osbourne Brothers,
Harley Allen has found considerable success as a performer and writer in his own right. With his brothers, he performed as the
Allen Brothers, touring with them and appearing on several releases, including My Old Kentucky Home (1972), Sweet Rumors (1974), and Clara's Boys (1976). Relocating from Dayton, OH, to Nashville,
Allen soon found work as a staff writer. Over the past two decades, he has had his songs recorded by acts such as
George Jones,
Alison Krauss,
Linda Ronstadt,
Alan Jackson,
Garth Brooks, and
Hal Ketchum.
John Michael Montgomery's version of
Allen's "This Little Girl" was nominated for three Academy of Country Music Awards in 2001. That same year,
Allen also participated in the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? as a member of the
Soggy Bottom Boys with
Union Station guitarist Dan Tyminski and
Pat Enright. The album was an out-of-nowhere success, selling several million copies and walking away with a Grammy for Album of the Year.
Allen has also lent his vocals to sessions for other artists throughout the years, as well as recording several solo releases, including 2001's Live at the Bluebird. ~ Tom Demalon