Sonwriter Profile of the Month

By Ray Yates

One of the faces you're likely to see at a LASC critique session is that of Allen Morris. Born and still residing in West Point Kentucky, he has been a member of the LASC since 1988. He also has been a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International for the last two years.

Both his grandfather and uncle played music when he was young. He still has an autograph of Tex Ritter that he got when he was 12. Allen, now 40, has been playing guitar since he was 14. In those early years his influences were the Beatles, the Allman Brothers Band, the Eagles, Eric Clapton. These days he plays both bass and guitar.

In 1975, 1976 and 1977, Allen performed on the road with two bands: First with Day Break playing country and top 40 tunes, then with Earl Lett playing soul and jazz with some country music to lighten the act. He has played all over the US and in parts of Canada. "On the way to one job in Nova Scotia the car broke. When we got there the place was a hole in the wall and we had to immediately go on stage... didn't even have time to comb our hair."

Three years ago he put out his own tape titled Old Friends. It received some radio play and generated enough in sales to pay for the project.

Although he has yet to have a song cut by a major recording artist Allen has had some publishing success. Publisher Charlie Walls at Music Man Productions has signed the"song "Baby Take A Look."Writer and Publisher Debbie Huff has signed "Too Hot To Handle." In addition Allen has co-written with Karen Le Van and co-wrote "Walk On The Wild Side" with Diana Black. He has been doing some work with Doc Dockery and occasionally sits in with the band Uncle Pecos.

When asked what advice he could give to new songwriters he said, "Keep writing!" "Don't get upset at critique sessions. Members (of the LASC) look out for each other like family. If someone make a criticism about a song then more than likely it needs work. If anyone in the organization gets a song cut, then everybody will get behind it and everyone benefits. No one should get jealous, even if they feel envious. It would be like a shot in the arm for the organization.