Oak Ridge Boys Member Duane Allen
Inducted Into Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
Legendary Group Announced as Honorary Texans
by Governor of Lone Star State
Carthage,
TX (August 13, 2014) – Oak Ridge Boys lead singer Duane Allen has
received high honors from his native Lone Star State. The award-winning
singer/songwriter/producer has been inducted into the Texas Country
Music Hall of Fame and named an honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy by
Governor Rick Perry. Oak Ridge Boys members Joe Bonsall, William Lee
Golden and Richard Sterban shared the spotlight by being proclaimed as
honorary Texans.
The 17th annual celebration was held in Carthage, Texas and included a
special concert by The Oak Ridge Boys along with free tours of the Hall
of Fame museum which features an exhibit on Duane Allen’s extraordinary
life and musical journey with the Oaks. Texas Country Music Hall of
Fame founder Tommie Ritter Smith describes the inclusion of all four
Oaks members into the induction ceremony as a reflection of Allen’s
heart and East Texas roots. “He’s the one that was being inducted.
But, he wanted all of the other members to be honored right along with
him. So, The Oak Ridge Boys were proudly named honorary Texans,” she
explains.
Duane Allen says, “I am still in the after-glow of a very
overwhelming event in my life. It is a huge honor, and I am humbled to
the core of my soul with this induction. My first emotional moment was
when I walked into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Less than a
few feet inside, I had to just stop and gather my feelings. Every
emotional fiber of my body was saying, ‘WOW!!!’ ” He adds, “Then, I was
walked around to my exhibit. I had no idea what would be there. I’d
requested that it be a total surprise, and it was my wife, Norah Lee,
Kathy Harris, in our office, and Jim Halsey, our manager, who supplied
all of the memories for my exhibit. Rusty Summerville organized all of
the items. I was emotionally overcome when I saw it all.”