One of the most talented female artists has to be Deborah Allen, who not only sings but writes and produces too. Sadly though she is not considered commercial enough for the major labels and subsequently doesn't get the exposure that she really deserves.
Deborah's songs have been recorded by numerous artists including Janie Fricke, Conway Twitty, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Tammy Wynette, Mindy McCready, Brooks & Dunn, Loretta Lynn, LeAnn Rimes, Suzy Bogguss, Lorrie Morgan, Crystal Gayle, Lari White - the list goes on.
Deborah spoke with CMF about her career but for more information on this talented and beautiful lady then visit her website

 

CMF:- I think, for most people, the first time they heard Deborah Allen was on the duet tracks with Jim Reeves. How did you come to record the 'duets'.
DA:- I was at a party. As the night went on ...it became a "guitar pull"...that is where a bunch of songwriters pass the guitar around and sing. Little did I know that Bud Logan, who used to be the bass player for Jim Reeves, would be there to hear me and suddenly realize that my voice would be right for a project he was in the process of producing. I got a phone call the day after the party...and I was mystified at how I could possibly record with the late great Jim Reeves. He explained the overdubbing process and how he would also update the music tracks to be more current. I was honored to be asked to sing on such an innovative project and with such a great legend.

CMF:- The concept was something of a new innovation at the time. Did you find the experience exciting, strange or what?
DA:- Yes it was very exciting and some what strange in that my duet partner was in the spiritual realm and not present in the flesh. The most memorable moment came when I was standing in the middle of the large and dimly lit tracking room at Woodland Studios...When my voice and Jim Reeves' voice same together in harmony singing That great classic written by Bill Anderson and Roger Miller..."That's what happens when two world collide"....I promise you ...I felt the presence of Jim Reeves in the room...Two worlds really were colliding. The spirit world and the human world. It was very real.

CMF:- Actually it wasn't your first appearance on a record was it? Didn't you sing backup on some Roy Orbison's tracks too?
DA:- Yes...I did sing background on two Roy Orbison tracks. Not major hits...but still for me ...at the time...it was the thrill and opportunity of a lifetime.

CMF:- That must have been an exciting experience! Had Roy heard you sing before or, was it through some other avenue?
DA:- I met Roy Orbison and Joe Melz one day at the IHOP where I had been waiting tables. The day I met them...I was not working...just having breakfast. I was trying to think of a way to talk to these strange looking mysterious looking characters. I did not know then exactly who they were...but I knew they had to be in the music business...However...I did not want to just come out and blatantly push myself on them...So...(don't ask me why I thought this one up...but...) I went over to their table and asked,"Excuse me sir...are ya'll in the insurance business"? They quickly replied..."No Darlin'...We're in the Music Business". "That's What I thought! ! ! , I replied as I slid into their booth and began to share with them my dreams of being a singer..."See...I am a singer trying to get started...." The conversation went on from there... When I realized who I was sitting with...I was so excited...I mean these guys wrote "Pretty Woman"....and Roy was a stellar singer not to mention a major legendary star! ! ! ! How did I get so lucky...and thank God I had a moment of boldness...We parted ways after our conversation that day...but later, Joe contacted me to come sing on the two tracks. It took two weeks to reach me because at the time we met, I did not even have a telephone. When I finally got one...I called the AFTRA office one day to inquire about joining...and they said.."We are so glad you called...Joe Melz has been trying to fine you to ask you to sing on a Roy Orbison track". The rest is history...for me anyway.

CMF:- Roy, of course, recorded some of his early work at the Sun studios in your hometown of Memphis. Who were your musical influences when growing up there?
DA:- Growing up in Memphis...My father had an auto mobile upholstery shop... and a clean up department too. All the guys who worked in there listened to WDIA...the local R&B station. I loved Al Green...Otis Redding...Rufus Thomas...Aretha...Ray Charles...etc..............................................................And I also got a good dose of rock'n roll form riding in the car with my Mother...We loved...Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and of course...ELVIS. On Saturday afternoons....they would watch the country TV shows and it was there that I was exposed to the great country artists. So I really got a great mix of musical influences... My Mother would clean house to Ace Cannon, and Bill Black's Combo. Her musical tastes and our musical tastes continued to progress with the times, I saw Little Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin, and The Beach Boys, and Chicago at the Memphis Coliseum. Moody Blues and Joan Baez and Rufus Thomas at Ellis Auditorium. Muddy Waters and Poco at The Overton Park Band Shell. My brother in law, Wesley Stafford, was the lead guitar player for awhile in a group called THE Gentrys...they were a local band who had a couple of really big national hits in the US..."Keep On Dancin'"And "Cinnamon Girl"...I loved hanging out with Wesley and my sister, Judy, when they were dating...I am sure they got tired of me being the third wheel...but I just wanted to be near the music. I can still see my head hanging over the front seat between them singing to them as we rode down the road together open their date. I guess they had to get married to have any time alone. Anyway...I was always surrounded by a melting pot of musical styles and I am sooooo glad I grew up in Memphis.

CMF:- Your love of music and determination led you, like many others, to move to Nashville. Did you find it a daunting experience moving to a strange town where you probably knew no one?
DA:- Absolutely...but it was the beginning of my life's adventure...every day brought the promise of a dream unfolding. I loved the great unknown...and still do!

CMF:- Can you tell us about any of your experiences funny, amusing or whatever about those early days?
DA:- Well the first place I lived in Nashville was a large old home on 16th avenue. The little lady who rented it out to me was 90 years old..she was also a diabetic and had to give herself shots every day. Her judgment of character was not at its peak. After she rented the room to me...she then rented another room to an older lady who happened to be a full fledge wino. This wino lady also had with her ...her epileptic wino son who was a grown man...it was funny and scary all at the same time. The 90 year old lady who owned the house had to leave for about a week to go to her 60 year old son's funeral...she left the Winos in charge of the house...and what did they do???? Why they rented the rest of the rooms out to other Winos... Of course! What a colorful time.

CMF:- As already mentioned you met Roy Orbison but you also worked at, the now defunct, Opryland Theme Park and then went to Russia with Tennessee Ernie Ford. Both those experiences must have been a great boost for you and your career.
DA:- I Love Tennessee Ernie Ford! ! ! And I loved working at Opry land. It was a great place to get to pursue my singing career and make money at the same time. Plus many of the friends that I made while performing there have gone on to be presidents of record labels...top studio musicians, songwriters and artists. And, the trip to Russia is a wonderful memory. I will treasure it always.

CMF:- Shortly after your return you met the very talented songwriter Shel Silverstein who encouraged you to hone your writing skills. Had you been writing much before then?
DA:- Shel really changed my life in an instant when he pointed out to me one afternoon at the Hall Of Fame where I had invited him to come hear me perform...that there are a lot of great singers...and how that wonderful feeling that you get from being on stage in front of an audience fades...but when you write a song...it is something you can keep with you always! ! ! That made so much sense...and I thought "If anyone as great as Shel Silverstein thinks I can be a songwriter....then I guess I'm a songwriter now". It was that simple. You never know when you are going to change someone's life forever with just the rights words of encouragement. I am so thankful that Shel was my mentor.

CMF:- After two years in L.A. you returned to Nashville. Following the duets with Jim Reeves and shortly afterwards you had your first solo album "Trouble In Paradise" which had a most alluring photo on the cover which I suppose was quite risqué at the time. All the tracks were either written or co-written by you so by this time you must have been writing seriously. Can you recall what your feelings were at that time?

DA:- I just knew that I wanted to be taken seriously as a songwriter...and that I wanted to release a full length album...not just a single...I wanted to make more of an artistic statement. The photo...shot by my great friend and incredible songwriter himself...Wood Newton...was the perfect person to enhance the vision of "Trouble In Paradise" The front was me holding an apple with my bare shoulders showing...suggesting Eve in the Garden of Eden....The back of the Album was simply an apple with a bite taken out of it....You know the rest of the story.

CMF:- The next few years must have been very special to you with your first big hit "Baby I Lied" from the album "Cheat The Night" and further success with the album "Let Me be The One". You received major sales in both Country and Pop fields. You also appeared with George Jones on one of his albums singing one of your songs. If you had to relive just one of the events from that period what would it be and why?
DA:- It would have to be "Baby I Lied".......Without that song in my life...which I co-wrote with Rory Bourke and Rafe VanHoy....The rest may never have occurred.

CMF:- Even while recording your albums you continued with your writing and had innumerable of your songs recorded by many artists including Loretta Lynn, Janie Fricke, Barbara Mandrell, Lorrie Morgan, Conway Twitty, Diana Ross and Sheena Easton. When you write do you have a particular artist in mind? Also do you find it easier to write alone?
DA:- I Always try to write the best song I can at the moment...Each idea takes its own course. I do draw energy from other people when I co-write...but I think it is important to write alone as well to keep you confidence and self esteem up. I love any form of creativity.

CMF:- A new decade and apart from the writing you worked on producing a new album which was "Delta Dreamland". This album was different from your previous ones insomuchas as it had more of a blues feeling and a more sexy portrayal of yourself. Was this change a deliberate move to try something new as you had more control over the project?
DA:- I found myself...after much musical exploration away from the spot light ....realizing that it was indeed my Memphis heritage that shaped my musical journey and made me who I am... So it was a conscious effort to get in touch with those roots on every level...musically, physically and in spirit.

CMF:- After your next album "All That I Am" we really haven't, much to my regret, heard much of you on record. However, you have been busy writing and have had songs recorded by Leann Rimes, Twister Alley, Mindy McCready, Helen Darling,Brooks and Dunn. Have you still continued to perform even though you haven't been recording? Do you find this period in your life more rewarding?
DA:-I have recorded so much music that has never been heard. The politics of the music business is something that is out of my control...but the making of music is with in my power to create and enjoy...and that ...I still do constantly with a passion. I have a couple of albums on SBS records...(our own label) One is called "Deb In The Raw"..The other is titled "Hands On". I also produced an album on a jazz singer named Adrian Rose which is available on SBS records as well. I am loving this portion of my life.

CMF:- I believe recently you appeared with one of your sisters and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. It must have been a new experience for you.
DA:- My sister Maestro Nancy Thurmond Sutton and I just experienced the ultimate musical experience together with The Nashville Symphony Orchestra! ! ! We are currently in the process of planning more concert events in other cities with orchestras. I have to say, our very own Nashville Symphony Orchestra is the cream of the crop!!! Ronn Huff wrote all the arrangements to my songs for the performance and it was like a dream come true...in every way. By the way...Adrian Rose made her debut appearance as one of our special guests.

CMF:- Following the recent announcement that Fan Fair is to be changed in 2004 to include other musical genres has raised strong feelings from many quarters. Looking back over the years how do you view the changes in Country Music? Do you think they are for the better?
DA:- Change is good as long as we are always able to learn form the changes and adjust accordingly to constantly glean the greatness from those changes and cast away what does not work. Life is a work in progress...I guess that goes for Country Music and Fan Fair too.

CMF:- Finally, Deborah, when are we going to be treated with a new album from you?
DA:- I do have some very interesting prospects in the works on that level. Thanks for asking. I also just had the honor of singing on a recording of a duet with The Bellamy Brothers and Neil Diamond...."Sweet Caroline"...what fun. We are long time friends and I love working with them (Bellamy Bros). Another exciting project...along with the upcoming symphony performances ...I am also currently doing a tour called The paJAMa party! ! ! It is me, Michelle Wright and The Kinleys. We are all on stage together backing each other up vocally. It is an energetic evening of great music and Lots of fun....When we are traveling on the bus it is literally a rolling paJAMa party! ! ! We are also selling our official paJAMa party Sleep- T's and giving all the proceeds to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Research Center in Nashville. We are hoping to present them a big check this coming "Country In The Rockies" where I have become extremely involved in their efforts to raise money for Cancer Research...Thanks to Frances Preston...CEO of BMI................................................................. So.........Life goes on...and again it is the mystery of the great unknown that keeps me going. Thanks for your continued love and support

CMF:- Thank you Deborah for taking the time from your busy schedule and Good luck with future ventures.