Biography
Allen Shamblin earned co-writing credit on a standout country hit from the close of the 1990s. Mark Wills’s recording of “Don’t Laugh at Me” earned gold certification, while the Nashville Songwriters Association named the track Song of the Year for 1999 and the Academy of Country Music placed it among its nominees in that same category. Steve Seskin joined Shamblin on the composition, which the folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary later recorded; the piece urges greater acceptance of children who differ in ability or appearance. The Special Olympics embraced the song and asked Peter, Paul & Mary to perform it at the organization’s World Games, and advocacy groups serving homeless adults, gay communities, and people who are overweight also adopted it informally. Four additional chart-toppers stand to Shamblin’s credit: “We Were in Love,” “In This Life,” “Walk on Faith,” and “He Walked on Water.”
Although born in Tennessee, Shamblin grew up in Huffman, a town outside Houston, Texas. In high school he taught himself guitar while absorbing the work of Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, and Kris Kristofferson. He later earned a marketing degree at Sam Houston State University and took a job appraising real estate, yet continued writing songs at night. In 1987 he moved to Nashville with fourteen completed compositions in hand. Until he secured a publishing contract, he worked in a warehouse, parked cars, and held other temporary positions. Less than twelve months after his arrival, Hayes Street Music/Almo Music Corp. added him to its writing staff. Within another year, the Forester Sisters and Lee Greenwood had cut his material. Randy Travis reached the top of the country charts in 1990 with Shamblin’s “He Walked on Water.” Five years after joining the company, he left to establish his own firm, Built on Rock Music. More than one hundred of his songs have been recorded by a wide range of performers that includes Prince, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Patty Loveless, Dolly Parton, and Wynonna Judd.
Although born in Tennessee, Shamblin grew up in Huffman, a town outside Houston, Texas. In high school he taught himself guitar while absorbing the work of Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, and Kris Kristofferson. He later earned a marketing degree at Sam Houston State University and took a job appraising real estate, yet continued writing songs at night. In 1987 he moved to Nashville with fourteen completed compositions in hand. Until he secured a publishing contract, he worked in a warehouse, parked cars, and held other temporary positions. Less than twelve months after his arrival, Hayes Street Music/Almo Music Corp. added him to its writing staff. Within another year, the Forester Sisters and Lee Greenwood had cut his material. Randy Travis reached the top of the country charts in 1990 with Shamblin’s “He Walked on Water.” Five years after joining the company, he left to establish his own firm, Built on Rock Music. More than one hundred of his songs have been recorded by a wide range of performers that includes Prince, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, Patty Loveless, Dolly Parton, and Wynonna Judd.
Albums