NOLAN BRUCE ALLEN - BMHOF CLASS OF 2022

" Known as “New York’s King of Western Swing” 

Nolan Bruce Allen (NBA) brought a unique and true style of country music to our area and excelled at it like no other.

He was born April 1944 in Phenix City, Alabama to an impoverished family during World War II. He began performing professionally at age 18. While serving in the U.S. Army’s famed 1st Cavalry Division in the Korean peninsula, he played country music on Army broadcast radio shows.  In late 1963 he was transferred to the 7th Army in Europe. Stationed at Panzer Kaserne near Stuttgart, Germany he performed frequently, traveling as necessary to perform. NBA’s band opened for or backed various country & western stars from Nashville and elsewhere, booked in to entertain our Soldiers. To name just a few: Del Reeves, Bill Carlisle, Wilma Lee and Stony Cooper, Carl Perkins, Hank Locklin and Bobby Helms. Helms’s number one hit “Fraulein” was still immensely popular in Germany at the time. Likewise Hank Locklin’s great #1 hit “Send Me The Pillow You Dream On”, Del Reeves “Girl On The Billboard”, Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes”, Bill Carlisle’s “What Kind Of Deal Is This” and Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper “There’s A Big Wheel”. Such wonderful and unforgettable times! The war was over. In mid-1966 he was sent back to the USA where he after discharge joined Bobby Allen’s Southern Comfort band.

In 1967 NBA left Bob’s band to start his own. He was succeeded by the greatly experienced Jimmy Lamphere. Jimmy remained with Bob many years. Roots of NBA’s Lone Star Western Swing Band go back to late 1966 in East Aurora, New York. While living there he met Gene Hilts who the following year became NBA’s first steel guitar player. He traveled regularly throughout the area to gigs that gradually became more distant. He began attending fiddle and steel guitar shows and listening to authentic western Swing bands mostly in the Midwest. At these shows valuable, long term contacts were established, including Hall Of Fame steel guitarist and producer Tom Morrell. Tom played steel and produced all 66 tracks of NBA’s legendary recording sessions at Sumet Studio’s, Dallas, Texas during 2002. Sumet is the studio utilized by Bob Wills for his final recordings, appropriately titled “For The Last Time”. Hall of Famer Tommy Allsup produced this session for Wills and 30 years later played rhythm guitar on every track of NBA’s, 3 double-length CD’s. Sumet closed shortly after NBA’s sessions. 

NBA had moved a final time to Grand Island, New York in 1972 and established his permanent home base. Bookings in Midwestern America were occasionally offered and accepted as time permitted. His band grew to nine pieces, including steel guitar, fiddle, piano, twin guitars, saxophone, harmonica, bass and drums. In 1977 he formed Northeastern Leasing & Finance Corp. Fast growth meant NBA had to manage a double career or give up music. The Lone Star Band name reflected his major influence, the western swing legend Bob Wills, whom he “discovered” in 1969. NBA followed Wills as closely as possible after that and spent many long hours, days, months and years studying, learning, performing and generally getting a feel for the western swing style. With only subtle differences, NBA’s own western swing sound emerged. A tightly arranged, clean, full, tasty sound was, is and remains the name of the game. Wills passed away May 13, 1975.

About 2010 NBA was offered an opportunity to join a new, internet radio station network and he grabbed it. From inception his music has been heard around the world 24-7-365 with Asleep At The Wheel, Bob Wills, Willy Nelson and other classic and newer top artists. His station can be reached by first logging on to the server, Jango.com and entering Nolan Bruce Allen in the search bar. Listen ad-free. It has brought him 1000’s of new fans. 

NBA is a lifetime member of the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, The International Western Music Society and The Academy of Western Artists from which his CD’s garnered 4 nominations. 

A Philanthropist, he has aided thousands of small businesses and individuals. For NBA words cannot adequately express the great honor of being an inducted member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. 

Much more is available at www.nolanbruceallen.com