Joe Allison
Induction Year: 1978
Birth Name: Joe Marion Allison
Birth Date: October 03, 1924
Place of Birth: McKinney, Texas
Deceased: August 02, 2002
Place of Death: Nashville, TN
Biography
"The first song I ever wrote was recorded by Tex Ritter ('When You Leave, Don't Slam the Door'), and it became a huge country hit. Naturally, I will always remember that event. But my proudest moment in writing came when Jim Reeves decided to record my song 'He'll Have to Go.' Jim's album went platinum but, more importantly, the song has been recorded, subsequently, by Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Guy Lombardo, The Mills Brothers, Tom Jones, Eddy Arnold and over one hundred different artists world wide. It is my wish that all writers will be blessed with, at least, one standard composition during his or her career."
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1943 - first radio job at KPLT in Paris, TX
1944 - worked at radio station KMAC in San Antonio
1945 - joined the Tex Ritter show at the Texas Theater as emcee; toured the U.S. and Canada with Ritter's troupe
1946 - first song recorded by Tex Ritter, "When You Leave, Don't Slam the Door"; went to #1
1949 - moved to Nashville and worked on radio station WMAK
1948 - appeared for two years on the Grand Ole Opry
1948 - broadcast "Noontime Neighbors" and "Tin Pan Valley" over WSM (Nashville)
1953 - moved to station KXLA in Pasadena, CA
1955 - Faron Young recorded, "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young"
1957 - Tommy Sands recorded, "Teen Age Crush"; sold a million copies
1957 - hosted "Country America" television show at ABC in Hollywood
1957 - Jeannie Black's version of "He'll Have to Stay" was a million seller
1960 - worked at station KFOX in Long Beach
1960 - started country music department at Liberty Records
1960 - signed Willie Nelson to first recording contract
1960 - Jim Reeves' recording of "He'll Have to Go" went platinum
1961 - was General Manager of Central Songs in Hollywood, CA
c.1965 - moved back to Nashville to head Dot Records country department; recorded string of hits with Hank Thompson and Roy Clark, including "Yesterday When I Was Young"
c.1967 - became head of Capitol Records country division in Nashville
1970 - retired
Awards:
1955 - BMI Award/Country/Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young
1956 - BMI Award\Country\It's a Great Life
1957 - BMI Award\Country\Teen Age Crush
1960 - BMI Award\Country\He'll Have to Go
1960 - BMI Award\Pop\He'll Have to Go
1960 - BMI Award\Country\He'll Have to Stay
1964 - CMA\Founding Presidents Award (now called the Connie B. Gay Award)\for writing and producing a series of trade shows
1970 - Jim Reeves Memorial Award
1976 - Disc Jockey Hall of Fame induction
Catalog Highlights:
"When You Leave, Don't Slam the Door" - Artists: Tex Ritter (1946)
"He'll Have to Go" - Co-writer: Audrey Allison - Artists: Jim Reeves (1960), Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Guy Lombardo, The Mills Brothers, Tom Jones, Eddy Arnold
"Teen Age Crush" - Co-writer: Audrey Allison - Artists: Tommy Sands (1957)
"Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" - Artists: Faron Young (1955)
"It's a Great Life" - Artists: Faron Young (1956)
"He'll Have to Stay" - Co-writer: Audrey Allison, Charlie Grean - Artists: Jeannie Black (1957)
"I'd Fight the World" - Co-writer: Hank Cochran - Artists: Jim Reeves (1974), Hank Cochran (1962)
"Sweet Violets" - Artists: Bob Braun, Roy Clark
"It Scares Me Half to Death" - Artists: "Little" Jimmy Dickens
"Old Lovers Make Bad Friends" - Artists: Roy Clark, Curtis Potter
"But I Was Lying" - Artists: Curtis Potter, Wanda Jackson
"Just Another Man" - Artists: Glen Campbell
"For the Life of Me" - Artists: Roy Clark
Comments:
Won a BMI 2 million performance award for "He'll Have to Go"
Won 5 BMI performance awards; 7 ASCAP performance awards (producer awards)
Past President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
Helped to found the Country Music Foundation (CMF)
Served as a consultant to radio stations switching to Country
Nicknamed "Jamboree Joe"; airname was "Uncle Joe" ("In the early days of Country radio, everybody had a nickname."
Currently works as an antiques dealer