Chris Allen
Hi, I'm Chris Allen.
You are here because you want to learn more about me, so I will tell you.....but you have to tell me about you sometime.
I was born in Duluth to Roger and Sue, my Dad is from Duluth, and my Mom is from New Jersey. I have a brother (Erik) who is married to Karen, and a sister (Stacy) who has two beautiful daughters Kyra and Laikyn. (both siblings are younger).
I credit my Grandpa Irv with getting me into sound recording. He sat me down and showed me how to use a sony reel-to-reel machine and I found it interesting to record myself and make noises and add echo to my voice, and was hooked from then on. He also spent a lot of time showing me electronics and how to use them. When I was a kid i used to re wire phones and cassette decks and walkie talkies.
My Grandma June taught me about Charity and helping make the world better than when I leave, she was an incredible woman and I am so proud to have known her.
I got my sense of humor from my mom.....she will laugh at anything. Usually pretty loud too. The nice part is, she will cheer me on if I am in Radio or if I shovel poop. (Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just don't think their asperations were for me to do that.)
My Aunt Lynn is the one who introduced me to music, which is my passion. When I was allowed to listen to music and buy music, she sat me down and played "Ticket To Ride" by the Beatles, and introduced me to Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Motown, and so many others. We continue to talk music now.
My Dad lent me the money to buy the equipment I needed to build my first at home studio from money he saved for college (since I never wound up going). Without it I wouldn't have learned what I know in music or radio on the recording end.
I grew up in Duluth, went to Lowell Elementary. I used to record my sister and I doing radio plays.....for some reason she didn't go into film or radio.....I always say my bro and sis got the looks but I got all their talent. Those of you that know all of us will agree. As I grew older I went to Washington Jr for middle school. For high school I attended Duluth Central, I ran cross country, track and was a nordic skiier. I was the first sophomore to place in a scoring position in the history of the school. I liked air band and snuck into the "band room" and learned how to play drums. I always wanted to do music and radio and I was a terribly shy kid so I didn't see that happening.
I was in a band called Skyward and we played a few places in Minnesota and that gave me the bug to get into something bigger. So, shortly after graduation I moved to Nashville to become a songwriter and wound up meeting a bunch of the people who became big stars, like Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson. I worked at Tower Records and helped develop live night. While I was there I met a lot of people wanting to make it big and discovered I had a talent for studio work and production. I met Hawk Harrison there who worked for WYHY Y107, he let me be stupid with him a few nights and asked why I wasn't doing radio, I had always wanted to, what was keeping me out.
I started a small record label to help my friend get a record career going and did production and writing. It saved my career when I got into radio, one of my bosses said, "Your voice sounds like a cat dying on a hot tin roof, but your production sounds great and people seem to like ya". I have now been doing radio for 13 years and that man is one of my biggest mentors and I value his advice.
I have lived in Minnesota, Tennessee, Louisiana, Maryland, and Deleware. I have also been fortunate enough to visit most the this great nation (I need 5 more states and I get the steak knives). I enjoy music (obviously) both listening and writing it. My Favorite aritsts are Van Halen, Michael W. Smith (I have a story about him, I'll tell you when I see you), Def Leppard, Evanescense, Garth Brooks, Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Kellie Pickler, The Beatles.....ok, I could go on and on here, basically, I like good music no matter what it is.
I love volleyball, Hockey,and fashion. I have a million ghost stories and would love to hear yours. I am very much into ghosts and the paranormal. I watch "Medium" "Ghost Adventures" "Ghost Hunters" "Paranormal State" among other shows. Got a ghost story, share it with me, wanna hear one? I have many.
I'm a fan of The Colts, Titans, Saints, Ravens, Terps, Tigers, Volunteers, Vandy, Wild, Coyotes, Predators, Red Wings, Bulldogs, Jets, and Wildcats. My favorite holiday is Halloween. My favorite color is Black, my fav food is mac and cheese.
I am married to my best friend Laurie, we have a 6 year old named JJ and a 1 year old named Sam.
I love working in radio because I get to meet interesting people, I get to try all kinds of things, I get to laugh and do stupid things and get paid, and meet some of the people making the music. I answer all my emails so feel free to send me one, just click on the email picture below.
