Gospel Legend Rance Allen Has Died
Oct 31, 2020
One of gospel biggest icons has passed. Bishop Rance Allen is one of our greatest voices and will be missed. Pray for his family. This is a major loss.


Formed by vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter Rance Allen (b. Monroe, Michigan) with his brothers Tom (drums) and Steve (bass guitar); another brother, Esau (percussionist), joined the group on an intermittent basis.[2]:256 During an appearance at a gospel talent contest in Detroit, Michigan, they came to the attention of one of the judges, record promoter Dave Clark, who worked for Stax Records.[1][2]:255–256 The group was the first to be signed to the Stax imprint Gospel Truth, and they recorded for the Stax organization throughout the 1970s.[1][2]:256 In 1972, the group appeared in the documentary film Wattstax.[2]:270 Following this appearance, the group was named "Best Religious Group" by the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers (NATRA).[2]:272 David Porter co-produced the group's 1975 album A Soulful Experience, for which he wrote an autobiographical song, "Just Found Me".[2]:363

The Rance Allen Group is a gospel music group formed in Monroe, Michigan, and based in Toledo, Ohio, named after its lead vocalist, Bishop Rance Allen.[1]


The group's incorporation of rock and soul into traditional black gospel music prefigures the crossover success of such artists as Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and The Winans.[1][3] In 1978, the group had a Top 30 R&B hit, "I Belong to You."[3] The group released one of its most famous songs, Miracle Worker, in spring 2000