Changes

Four children<br>​

Four children<br>​

'''Notes''':<br>

'''Notes''':<br>

*Harris  career as a [[pianist]] mostly began and ended with two of the best-known names in the field of [[music]]: [[Ricky Nelson]] in [[California]] and [[Jimmie Davis]] in [[Louisiana]].<br>

*Harris  career as a [[pianist]] mostly began and ended with two of the best-known names in the field of [[music]]: [[Ricky Nelson]] in [[California]] and [[Jimmie Davis]] in [[Louisiana]].

*Floyd Cramer's decision to move to [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]] opened doors for Harris to become staff pianist at the former Louisiana Hayride in [[Shreveport]]'s Municipal Auditorium.​<br>

*Floyd Cramer's decision to move to [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]] opened doors for Harris to become staff pianist at the former Louisiana Hayride in [[Shreveport]]'s Municipal Auditorium.​

* Harris' friendship with a former Lake Charles [[Mayor]] James E. Sudduth led to Harris' appointment as director of the Lake Charles Civic Center, which is named for Sudduth.​<br>

* Harris' friendship with a former Lake Charles [[Mayor]] James E. Sudduth led to Harris' appointment as director of the Lake Charles Civic Center, which is named for Sudduth.​

*Harris is among sixteen musicians honored with induction in the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish  because of their impact on the [[Mississippi River]] delta country.​

*Harris is among sixteen musicians honored with induction in the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday in Concordia Parish  because of their impact on the [[Mississippi River]] delta country.​

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'''Allen W. Harris''', known as '''Allen "Puddler" Harris''' (born June 9, 1936),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/allen-harris/thepuddler|title=Allen Harris|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=January 4, 2020}}</ref> is a [[rock and roll]] and [[Country music|country]] [[musician]] who played [[piano]] in the original [[Ricky Nelson]] Band in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], and the last [[Jimmie Davis]] band in [[Louisiana]]. In between, he worked for a [[decade]] with Conway Twitty (1933-1993) as the singer's production manager.

'''Allen W. Harris''', known as '''Allen "Puddler" Harris''' (born June 9, 1936),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/allen-harris/thepuddler|title=Allen Harris|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=January 4, 2020}}</ref> is a [[rock and roll]] and [[Country music|country]] [[musician]] who played [[piano]] in the original [[Ricky Nelson]] Band in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], and the last [[Jimmie Davis]] band in [[Louisiana]]. In between, he worked for a [[decade]] with Conway Twitty (1933-1993) as the singer's production manager.

==Biography==

==Biography==

​Harris was born in tiny Jigger near Winnsboro in Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Jigger was also the birthplace of perennial Louisiana political candidate [[L. D. Knox|L. D. "None of the Above" Knox]]. Harris's interest in music began as a teenager when he and [[guitarist]] Fred Carter, Jr., also from Winnsboro, formed a band which played at parties, drive-in restaurants, and other similar gatherings. Harris joined the [[United States Marine Corps]]. On his discharge, he was given the opportunity to substitute for pianist Floyd Cramer (1933-1997) at the Louisiana Hayride in the [[Shreveport]] Municipal Memorial Auditorium. When Cramer moved permanently to [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], Harris replaced him as staff pianist at the Hayride, which closed in 1960. He also recorded and toured with Johnny Horton and became friends with Joe Osborn, originally from Mound near Tallulah in Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana, and James Burton, a [[guitarist]] born in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. The trio thereafter reunited as members of the original Nelson band.<ref name=brochure>Brochure, "Delta Music Museum Celebrities," [[Delta Music Museum]], Ferriday, Louisiana.</ref>​

Harris was born in tiny Jigger near Winnsboro in Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Jigger was also the birthplace of perennial Louisiana political candidate [[L. D. Knox|L. D. "None of the Above" Knox]]. Harris's interest in music began as a teenager when he and [[guitarist]] Fred Carter, Jr., also from Winnsboro, formed a band which played at parties, drive-in restaurants, and other similar gatherings. Harris joined the [[United States Marine Corps]]. On his discharge, he was given the opportunity to substitute for pianist Floyd Cramer (1933-1997) at the Louisiana Hayride in the [[Shreveport]] Municipal Memorial Auditorium. When Cramer moved permanently to [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], Harris replaced him as staff pianist at the Hayride, which closed in 1960. He also recorded and toured with Johnny Horton and became friends with Joe Osborn, originally from Mound near Tallulah in Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana, and James Burton, a [[guitarist]] born in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. The trio thereafter reunited as members of the original Nelson band.<ref name=brochure>Brochure, "Delta Music Museum Celebrities," [[Delta Music Museum]], Ferriday, Louisiana.</ref>​

While in Hollywood, Harris recorded with [[actor]] Walter Brennan (1894-1974), known for three Academy Awards for Best Actor and his ''The Real McCoys'' [[television]] series, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Lettermen, The Ventures, and Ray Anthony. He also worked for Leroy Van Dyke and Nat Stuckey (1933-1988). When Stuckey toured with Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Twitty offered Harris a position with his "Twitty Bird Band."<ref name=brochure/>​

While in Hollywood, Harris recorded with [[actor]] Walter Brennan (1894-1974), known for three Academy Awards for Best Actor and his ''The Real McCoys'' [[television]] series, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Lettermen, The Ventures, and Ray Anthony. He also worked for Leroy Van Dyke and Nat Stuckey (1933-1988). When Stuckey toured with Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Twitty offered Harris a position with his "Twitty Bird Band."<ref name=brochure/>​

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Allen "Puddler"}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Allen "Puddler"}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​