Artist:The Rance Allen Group
Song:Do Your Will
Album:All the Way
Rance Allen was a pioneer of contemporary black gospel. He may have been the first to mix traditional quartet music with soul and R&B in the early 70s. And as gospel changed with the times, Allen kept up with hits like this 2002 hit single Do Your Will. Allen was born Nov. 20, 1948 in Monroe, MI. He began playing piano at age nine. He became a licensed minister at age 12 and preached throughout the midwest. He formed The Rance Allen Group with his brothers Steve and Tom. Rance was lead singer and wrote all the songs. After recording for a local label, Allen's mix of gospel and soul got him a record deal with Stax's new gospel label Gospel Truth. They appeared in the 1973 concert film Wattstax. Allen was having success on the R&B charts but then Stax went bankrupt. He recorded a 1977 album for Capitol and then returned to the revived Stax. But that didn't last and Allen recorded for Word's Myrrh label in the 80s. In 1985, Allen was named pastor at the New Bethel Church in Toledo, OH and he was consecrated as a bishop. And he continued to tour and record for Belmark in the 90s. Then he signed with Tyscot Records for the 2002 album All the Way. And the single Do Your Will was a big hit on the Gospel charts. It appeared on the 2003 WOW Gospel CD. So it was one of the top gospel hits of 2002. Allen wrote and produced Do Your Will with Chris Byrd. Byrd is a Toledo native who worked with Allen since the early 90s. Allen continued to tour and record for Tyscot until his death on Oct. 31, 2020 at age 71. Here's the video for Do Your Will by The Rance Allen Group.
No comments:
Post a Comment