Joe Allen
Musician · Aspen, Colorado
Best known for
Bass
Joe Allen is a Colorado-born, Nashville-based bassist and songwriter whose decades on the country session circuit — including a long tenure in Johnny Cash's road and studio bands — have placed him on bluegrass-adjacent records by Cash, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams, Emmylou Harris, and Neil Young, alongside hit-songwriting credits including Barbara Mandrell's first #1.
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- American country session bassist and songwriter born in Aspen, Colorado; based in Nashville for his recording career.
- One of Nashville's first-call session bassists from the 1970s onward, working both upright and electric bass.
- Long-tenured member of Johnny Cash's road and studio bands, including Cash's 1980s ensemble "The Great Eighties Eight."
- Bass credits include Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings ("The Ramblin' Man"), Don Williams (Volumes 1 and 2), Emmylou Harris ("Portraits"), and Neil Young ("Old Ways," "Lucky Thirteen"); also toured with Neil Young.
- Additional session credits include Bobby Bare, Ray Price, Charley Pride, Mickey Newbury, Dick Curless, and Merle Haggard.
- Hit-songwriting credits: Barbara Mandrell's first #1 "The Midnight Oil," plus cuts by Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, Don Williams, Bobby Bare, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard, and Crystal Gayle.
- More recent songwriting collaborations with Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys), including two co-writes on Yola's Grammy-nominated debut.
- Continues to mentor songwriters and serves as a judge and clinician at country-music spotlight events in western Colorado.
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Ricky SkaggsPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs
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Doc WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc Watson
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Doc and Merle WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc and Merle Watson