Allen Shelton Passes Away In Nashville At Age 73

ALL ACCESS sends condolences to the family and friends of ALLEN SHELTON. Bluegrass banjo player ALLEN SHELTON died SATURDAY (11/21) at CENTENNIAL MEDICAL CENTER in NASHVILLE after battling leukemia. He was 73.

SHELTON was an integral part of many classic recordings with JIM & JESSE, JIM EANES and others. He joined JIM & JESSE on 89 titles between 1960 and 1966.

JESSE McREYNOLDS said: “He helped start the JIM & JESSE sound. He had his own style: He had a way of presenting with his right hand that no other banjo player has had. I learned a lot of mandolin licks from the way he played the banjo, and he was like a brother to me.”

SHELTON also recorded numerous solo albums, most notably the 2001 ROUNDER RECORDS album, "Shelton Special", which featured a diverse set of songs, including the bluegrassy “Banjo Bounce,” country classic “Crazy Arms,” the jazzy “Sweet Georgia Brown” and standard “Lady of Spain.”

Visitation takes place today (11/23) from 11a-8p (CT) at WOODARD FUNERAL HOME in WESTMORELAND, TN. There will be a second visitation opportunity from 10a (CT) until service time on TUESDAY (11/24). Funeral services will take place at 2p (CT) on TUESDAY (11/24), from THE CHAPEL OF WOODARD FUNERAL HOME.

« see more Net News