Duane Allen
A native of Taylortown, Texas, Duane (Ace) Allen had formal training in both operatic and quartet singing before becoming a member of the Oaks in 1966. He has written a book on the history of Gospel music and has an honorary doctorate from a Christian college.
Duanes farm in Hendersonville, Tennessee, features a menagerie that includes beef cattle, horses, burros, and Canadian geese. A superb businessman, he is credited with keeping the Oaks on firm financial footing during their switch from Gospel to Country in the late 1970s. Duane also loves to find new music for the Oaks; consequently, he has recently taken on the role of co-producer. Duane, along with Michael Sykes, produced the groups last seven albums.
To relax and stay in physical shape, he walks 20-30 miles each week and works out with a personal trainer! He is also an avid basketball fan and enjoys shooting hoops whenever he gets the chance. Duane is an antique car buff; he has more than two-dozen classics in a collection that is housed in a museum he calls Ace On Wheels.
Its a great way to relax, he says of the restoration process. I get a lot of pleasure out of going down there and sanding and painting with no real sense of urgency.
He and his wife Norah Lee raised two children, Jamie and Dee, and now enjoy spending time with their two grandsons, March and Kell, and two granddaughters, Texas LeeAnna and Tallant.
