Biography
Rance Allen emerged as a pivotal and trailblazing presence in gospel music, serving as both vocalist and pastor while spearheading the Rance Allen Group during the 1960s and 1970s. The trio infused traditional gospel with rock, soul, R&B, and jazz elements, and observers frequently identify Allen as one of the first to merge sacred music with contemporary textures, steering gospel toward a renewed direction that drew in fresh listeners. Standout early works include the Rance Allen Group’s albums for the Stax-affiliated Gospel Truth Records, especially 1972’s The Rance Allen Group and 1975’s A Soulful Experience, whereas later releases such as 2014’s Celebrate confirmed that his skill and dedication remained undiminished.
Born in Monroe, Michigan, on November 20, 1948, Allen was one of eleven children of Thomas Allen and Emma Pearl Allen. At age five, after beginning to read, his grandmother presented him with a Bible, at which point he sensed a calling to preach and to spread the Lord’s message through music. Piano study started at nine, followed soon by guitar. Licensed as a minister at twelve, he traveled to deliver sermons across Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In 1969 he joined two brothers to create the Rance Allen Group, with Rance on lead vocals, piano, and guitar, Steve Allen handling bass, guitar, and vocals, and Tom Allen on drums and vocals. From their debut that year, the group took the foundation of soul music—itself rooted in artists like Ray Charles blending gospel passion with rhythm & blues forms—and reversed the flow by charging soul, rock, and jazz with gospel fervor.
Initial singles appeared on the local Reflect Records label. While performing at a Detroit talent show in 1971, a promoter connected with Stax discovered them, leading to an introduction to the label’s team and a contract with its gospel subsidiary, Gospel Truth Records. Their first album, 1972’s The Rance Allen Group, presented soulful gospel that initially stirred controversy within spiritual circles yet attracted listeners from both soul and gospel audiences. The trio appeared in the 1973 concert film Wattstax, performing “Lying on the Truth,” and that same year crossed to the R&B chart with “I Got to Be Myself” from Brothers, which reached number 31. David Porter produced 1975’s A Soulful Experience and co-wrote several songs, among them “Ain’t No Need of Crying,” which charted on the R&B list two years after release. The album was reissued in 1981 as Ain’t No Need of Crying. The Rance Allen Group moved to Capitol Records for 1977’s Say My Friend, returned to Stax the next year with Straight from the Heart, and scored another R&B hit with “I Belong to You,” which rose to number 24. The title track of 1979’s Smile peaked at 41 on the R&B chart. Their final Stax album, 1980’s I Feel Like Going On, was followed by 1983’s Hear My Voice and 1984’s I Give Myself to You on Myrrh Records.
In 1978 Allen became an Elder at the Holiness Temple Church of God in Christ in Monroe, Michigan, later serving as Associate Pastor there. He was named Pastor at New Bethel Church in Toledo, Ohio, in 1985, a post he held for the remainder of his life. Consecrated Bishop of the Church of God in Christ for the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction in 2011, he nevertheless continued recording and touring with his brothers. Between 1991 and 2000 they issued three albums on Belmark Records—Phenomenon, You Make Me Wanna Dance, and Miracle Worker—before releasing 2002’s All the Way on Tyscot Records. A 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance recognized the song “I Understand,” performed with BeBe Winans and Mariah Carey. Celebrate appeared in 2014, and the following year Allen performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during a gospel music celebration. Craft Recordings began reissuing Gospel Truth material on vinyl in early 2020, including three Rance Allen Group titles. Rance Allen died in Sylvania, Ohio, on October 31, 2020, at age 71 during a medical procedure.
Born in Monroe, Michigan, on November 20, 1948, Allen was one of eleven children of Thomas Allen and Emma Pearl Allen. At age five, after beginning to read, his grandmother presented him with a Bible, at which point he sensed a calling to preach and to spread the Lord’s message through music. Piano study started at nine, followed soon by guitar. Licensed as a minister at twelve, he traveled to deliver sermons across Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In 1969 he joined two brothers to create the Rance Allen Group, with Rance on lead vocals, piano, and guitar, Steve Allen handling bass, guitar, and vocals, and Tom Allen on drums and vocals. From their debut that year, the group took the foundation of soul music—itself rooted in artists like Ray Charles blending gospel passion with rhythm & blues forms—and reversed the flow by charging soul, rock, and jazz with gospel fervor.
Initial singles appeared on the local Reflect Records label. While performing at a Detroit talent show in 1971, a promoter connected with Stax discovered them, leading to an introduction to the label’s team and a contract with its gospel subsidiary, Gospel Truth Records. Their first album, 1972’s The Rance Allen Group, presented soulful gospel that initially stirred controversy within spiritual circles yet attracted listeners from both soul and gospel audiences. The trio appeared in the 1973 concert film Wattstax, performing “Lying on the Truth,” and that same year crossed to the R&B chart with “I Got to Be Myself” from Brothers, which reached number 31. David Porter produced 1975’s A Soulful Experience and co-wrote several songs, among them “Ain’t No Need of Crying,” which charted on the R&B list two years after release. The album was reissued in 1981 as Ain’t No Need of Crying. The Rance Allen Group moved to Capitol Records for 1977’s Say My Friend, returned to Stax the next year with Straight from the Heart, and scored another R&B hit with “I Belong to You,” which rose to number 24. The title track of 1979’s Smile peaked at 41 on the R&B chart. Their final Stax album, 1980’s I Feel Like Going On, was followed by 1983’s Hear My Voice and 1984’s I Give Myself to You on Myrrh Records.
In 1978 Allen became an Elder at the Holiness Temple Church of God in Christ in Monroe, Michigan, later serving as Associate Pastor there. He was named Pastor at New Bethel Church in Toledo, Ohio, in 1985, a post he held for the remainder of his life. Consecrated Bishop of the Church of God in Christ for the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction in 2011, he nevertheless continued recording and touring with his brothers. Between 1991 and 2000 they issued three albums on Belmark Records—Phenomenon, You Make Me Wanna Dance, and Miracle Worker—before releasing 2002’s All the Way on Tyscot Records. A 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance recognized the song “I Understand,” performed with BeBe Winans and Mariah Carey. Celebrate appeared in 2014, and the following year Allen performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during a gospel music celebration. Craft Recordings began reissuing Gospel Truth material on vinyl in early 2020, including three Rance Allen Group titles. Rance Allen died in Sylvania, Ohio, on October 31, 2020, at age 71 during a medical procedure.
Albums
Singles
