Background vocalist, baritone saxophonist, composer, pianist, and producer born Atwood Grant Allen in Robstown, Texas, who spent much of his career in collaboration with Doug Sahm, as a member of The Sir Douglas Quintet, the album project Doug Sahm and Band, and eventually as part of the first incarnation of The Texas Tornados.
He produced and contributed background vocals to The Return Of Doug Saldana, which was released on CD in 2002. (“Doug Saldana” was one of Sahm’s many pseudonyms.)
His compositions include “It’s Gonna Be Easy”, originally included on the album Doug Sahm and Band, released in 1973, and later covered by Bruce Robison, “I Love The Way You Love (The Way I Love You)” which appeared on The Texas Tornados’ album Texas Rock For Country Rollers in 1976, and “Michoacan” which Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders recorded on their 2006 release, Shinebender. He also wrote a few songs for the Hank Jr. Star Country String Band, appeared on Jimmy Rabbitt’s album Fast Times At The El Palomino, and played piano and sang background vocals on Gene Vincent: The Road Is Rocky: Complete Studio Masters 1956-1971.
Suffering from heart disease and other health problems he passed away on San Antonio, Texas in 2001 when he was 64 years old.
Doug Sahm & The Texas Tornados recordings
I Love The Way You Love (The Way I Love You) (Atwood Allen)
Here’s his “It’s Gonna Be Easy”…
Sources:
- https://medium.com/americana-music-productions/in-appreciation-of-atwood-allen-687788c84ca1
- http://www.answers.com/topic/doug-sahm-and-band-1973-album-by-doug-sahm?cat=entertainment
- http://www.danwhitaker.com/lyrics/michoacan.html
- http://www.music.com/performance/cat_man/5/
- http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/songslister.html/r/robison_bruce/its_gonna_be_easy-crd.html
- http://www.jimmyrabbitt.com/rabbittkrogreunion.htm
- http://www.laughlaugh.com/samples/Patton/stories.html
- http://www.kgot.com/iplaylist/album/621916/She’s+Huggin’+You,+But+She’s+Lookin’+at+Me.html