J. Allen Shamblin
Allen Shamblin was born in Tennessee and grew up in Huffman, Texas.
After attending Sam Houston State and graduating with a marketing degree in 1982, he moved to Austin where he worked as a real estate appraiser by day and honed his songwriting skills by night. With 14 completed songs, he moved to Nashville in 1987. His “story songs” quickly caught the attention of the Nashville music establishment.
In 1989, Randy Travis’s version of Shamblin’s song, “He Walked On Water,” topped country music charts. It was the beginning of a string of award-winning and chart-topping songs for Allen which have included “Walk On Faith” (Mike Reid), “In This Life” (Collin Raye,) “Thinkin’ Problem” (David Ball), “Life’s A Dance” (John Michael Montgomery), “We Were In Love” (Toby Keith), “Don’t Laugh At Me” (Mark Wills), “Live, Laugh, Love” (Clay Walker), “Where The Blacktop Ends” (Keith Urban) and Dove Award winner “It’s In God’s Hands Now” (Anointed).
“I Can’t Make You Love Me,” a song Shamblin co-wrote with Mike Reid, which was recorded by Bonnie Raitt, was nominated for a Grammy Award. His song “The House That Built Me,” recorded by Miranda Lambert, was named Song of the Year and Video of the Year at the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards and the 2010 Country Music Association Awards.
In addition to the accolades his songs have received, Shamblin will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Oct. 16.
Shamblin has also co-authored two children’s books, “Don’t Laugh At Me” and “A Chance To Shine,” with Steve Seskin. “Don’t Laugh At Me” has been translated into several languages and is being used by teachers as an aid against bullying.
Shamblin and his wife, Lori, live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their three children—Ashli, Caleb and Lindsey.