The Rance Allen Group#Rance Allen
{{Short description|Gospel music singers (1970–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Rance Allen Group
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = Monroe, Michigan, United States
| years_active = 1970–2020
| label = Gospel Truth Records, Stax, Bellmark
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = Rance Allen
Thomas Allen
Steve Allen
}}
The Rance Allen Group was a gospel music group formed in Monroe, Michigan, and based in Toledo, Ohio, named after its lead vocalist, Bishop Rance Allen.{{cite AV media notes| title= Straight from the Heart| others= Rance Allen | year= 1994 | first= Lee| last= Hildebrand| publisher= Fantasy Records| id= SCD-8589-2| location= Berkeley, CA}}
The group was formed by vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter Rance Allen (b. Monroe, Michigan) with his brothers Tom (drums) and Steve (bass guitar); another brother, Esau (percussionist), joined the group on an intermittent basis.{{Rp|256}} During an appearance at a gospel talent contest in Detroit, Michigan, they came to the attention of one of the judges, record promoter Dave Clark, who worked for Stax Records.{{Rp|255–256}} The group was the first to be signed to the Stax imprint Gospel Truth, and they recorded for the Stax organization throughout the 1970s.{{Rp|256}} In 1972, the group appeared in the documentary film Wattstax.{{cite book |last1=Bowman |first1=Rob |authorlink1=Rob Bowman (music writer) |title=Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records |year=1997 |publisher=Schirmer Books |location=New York |isbn=0-02-860268-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/soulsvilleusasto00bowm }}{{Rp|270}} Following this appearance, the group was named "Best Religious Group" by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA).{{Rp|272}} David Porter co-produced the group's 1975 album A Soulful Experience, for which he wrote an autobiographical song, "Just Found Me".{{Rp|363}}
The group's incorporation of rock and soul into traditional black gospel music prefigured the crossover success of such artists as Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and The Winans.{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p197972|label=Rance Allen Group|author=Ron Wynn}} In 1978, the group had a Top 30 R&B hit, "I Belong to You."
The group received a nomination at the 34th Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for their 1991 album Phenomenon.{{cite book |last1=O'Neil |first1=Thomas |title=The Grammys |date=1999 |publisher=Berkley |location=New York |isbn=0399524770 |page=517}}
The group's latest release, [https://music.apple.com/us/album/god-has-been-so-good/1535638917?i=1535638919 God Has Been So Good], is a collaboration with hip-hop pioneer [https://drglenntoby.com/ Glenn “Sweety G” Toby], producer Bernard Jackson and new gospel artist Mydason.
Rance Allen
Rance Allen (November 19, 1948 – October 31, 2020){{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/toledoblade/name/rance-allen-obituary?pid=197028431|title=Bishop Rance Allen 1948 - 2020|date=November 1, 2020|accessdate=April 1, 2023|publisher=The Blade}}{{Cite web|last=Kuehnlein|first=McKenzie|title=Gospel legend Bishop Rance Allen dies at the age of 71|url=https://www.13abc.com/2020/10/31/gospel-legend-bishop-rance-allen-dies-at-the-age-of-71/|date=October 31, 2020|access-date=October 31, 2020|website=13abc.com}} was an American Bishop, Minister, and gospel musician, and the founder and leader of the Rance Allen Group. Known for his extremely wide vocal range and powerful singing voice,{{cite web|title=There's no stopping the show-stopping Rance Allen Group at Jazz Fest|author=Willis, Fred|work=AXS |url=http://www.axs.com/there-s-no-stopping-the-show-stopping-rance-allen-group-at-jazz-fest-10228|date=April 9, 2014|accessdate=2014-04-09}} Allen became known as the main lead vocalist and the leader{{cite web|title=Legendary Rance Allen Group still stirring souls after all these years|publisher=MSR|author=Hallman, Charles|url=https://spokesman-recorder.com/2017/02/09/legendary-rance-allen-group-still-stirring-souls-years/|date=February 9, 2017}} of the influential group.{{cite web|title=RANCE ALLEN HOLDS PRIVATE SCREENING OF NEW DOCUMENTARY "MUSIC MAJORS" – The Legend Celebrates 40+ Years in Gospel Music|publisher=Path Megazine|author=Patrick, Kris|url=http://pathmegazine.com/news/gospel/rance-allen-holds-private-screening-of-new-documentary-music-majors-the-legend-celebrates-40-years-in-gospel-music/|date=February 27, 2013|accessdate=2013-02-27}}
He was the senior pastor of the New Bethel Church Of God In Christ in Toledo, Ohio, since its July 1985 establishment.{{Cite web | url=http://theranceallengroup.com/rancebio.php | title=Bishop Rance Allen Bio | work=The Rance Allen Group | accessdate=2012-12-03}} In November 2011, Rance Allen was elevated to the office of Bishop in the Church of God in Christ, for the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction.
Allen was born in 1948 in Monroe, Michigan to Thomas and Emma Pearl Allen, to a family of African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latino American heritage.{{Cite news|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|date=2020-11-13|title=Rance Allen, Frontman of a New-Sounding Gospel Group, Dies at 71|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/arts/rance-allen-dead.html|access-date=2020-11-15|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=THE OFFICIAL RANCE ALLEN GROUP SITE - NEW MUSIC {{!}} NEW VIDEOS {{!}} BAND MEMBER BIO'S AND MORE|url=https://theranceallengroup.com/rancebio.php|access-date=2020-11-15|website=theranceallengroup.com}} He had 11 siblings: six sisters and five brothers. Allen founded the Rance Allen Group in Detroit in 1969 joined by his brothers Thomas and Steve.{{Cite web | url=http://theranceallengroup.com/ourstory.php |title=The Rance Allen Group Story | work=The Rance Allen Group|accessdate=2012-12-03}}
Allen was married to Ellen Marie Allen (née Groves). The two were married on December 1, 1970.{{Cite web | url=http://www.newbethelbbministries.org/firstladybio.php | title=Ellen M. Allen Biography-New Bethel Bountiful Blessings COGIC | accessdate=2012-12-18}} The couple had no children together.
Allen and his group had performed with many gospel musicians throughout the country, including Andrae Crouch, Marvin Winans, Bebe and Cece Winans, the Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett, Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Bernard Jackson Jr. and Mary McLaurine Glover. He also performed for President Barack Obama at a White House Celebration of Gospel Music and was nominated for five Grammy Awards.
Allen died on October 31, 2020, from complications due to a medical procedure he had the previous week. He was 71 years old.{{Cite web|author=Alaa Elassar|title=Gospel legend Bishop Rance Allen dies at age 71|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/31/us/rance-allen-gospel-singer-death-trnd/index.html|access-date=2020-11-01|website=CNN|date=31 October 2020 }}
Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award-giving body ! Award ! Reference |
|---|
| rowspan=2| 2012
|rowspan=2| Stellar Awards | Quartet of the Year: "The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry" |
| Traditional Group/Duo of the Year: "The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry" |
Discography
- Rance Allen Group (1972)
- Truth Is Where It's At (1972)
- Brothers (1973)
- Sanctified (1975; UK-only compilation)
- A Soulful Experience (1975; reissued 1981 as Ain't No Need Of Crying)
- Say My Friend (1977; reissued 1979 as The Way It Is)
- Straight from the Heart (1978; reissued on CD with bonus tracks in 1994)
- Smile (1979)
- I Feel Like Goin' On (1980)
- Hear My Voice (1983)
- I Give Myself to You (1984)
- The Best of The Rance Allen Group (1988) (Stax Records)
- Phenomenon (1991)
- Up Above My Head (1995 compilation)
- You Make Me Wanna Dance (1995)
- Let The Music Get Down In Your Soul (1997; vault release)
- Miracle Worker (2000)
- The Soulful Truth Of The Rance Allen Group (2001; UK-only compilation)
- All the Way (2002)
- Wattstax (various artists; box set) (2003)
- The Live Experience (2004)
- Closest Friend (2007)
- The Live Experience II (2011)
- Amazing Grace (2012)
- Celebrate (2014)
- Live From San Francisco (2016)
- God Has Been So Good (2020)[https://mydason.ffm.to/godbeensogood]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://myspace.com/theranceallengroup The Rance Allen Group] on Myspace
- {{Discogs artist|The Rance Allen Group}}
- God Has Been So Good [https://ffm.to/godbeensogood]
{{BET Award for Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rance Allen Group, The}}
Category:1970 establishments in Michigan
Category:2020 disestablishments in Michigan
Category:American gospel musical groups
Category:Family musical groups
Category:Musical groups from Michigan