Allen Shelton, 1936-2009

Allen Shelton, 1969 (photo: Fred Robbins)

Thanks to Richard F Thompson of the BBMA for forwarding the sad news of the death of Allen Shelton, one of the most influential and innovative among bluegrass banjo-players of the 1950s and 1960s.

Beginning full-time music at the age of 16 with Jim Eanes, Shelton became known for his big smile and his original approach: the 'bounce' in his playing, his choice of unusual material such as 'Lady of Spain', playing 'Home sweet home' in D using Scruggs tuners, devising a means of getting a 'pedal-steel' sound from the banjo, and the modulations in his own compositions. His 'Banjo bounce' can be heard on YouTube. In addition to the bow-tie arch-top RB-250 he used for most of his career, he played latterly a dobro-banjo with the band of Jim & Jesse McReynolds.

More details are on the original Bluegrass Blog.