Robert Allen

Robert G. "Bob" Allen, 77, passed away on December 10, 2025, in Washington, DC. Born on August 6, 1948, in Sykesville, Maryland, Bob lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, and a deep passion for storytelling in all its forms. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Bob began his career placing freelance stories with Nashville! magazine and Country Music magazine. His talent and insight into the music world quickly earned him a position as an editor at Country Music magazine, where he remained associated into the 1990s. His voice became a trusted one in the industry-sharp, informed, and always compelling. Bob's writing reached far beyond country music journalism. A prolific writer with a wide range of interests, his work appeared in some of the most respected publications in the country: Billboard, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Atlanta Journal, Time-Life Records, Esquire, Playboy, Circus, and others. In recent years he continued to share his expertise and passion through articles and reviews for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. His contributions to music literature were equally significant. Bob authored or edited several influential books that chronicled the lives and legacies of country music legends. These included "Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: a Rip-Roaring Photo Bio" (Jove Books, 1980), "Waylon & Willie: the Full Story in Words and Pictures of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson" (Music Sales Corp., 1980), "The Blackwell Guide to Recorded Country Music" (editor; Wiley-Blackwell Publications, 1994), "George Jones: The Life and Times of a Honky Tonk Legend" (St. Martin's Press, 1996), and "The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music" (consulting editor; Billboard Books, 2007). Through these works he preserved not only facts but also the spirit of American music history. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bob was an avid historian with particular expertise in the Civil War and the Lincoln assassination. For more than 20 years he served as a narrator on bus tours of the escape route that John Wilkes Booth took after the assassination. He also led tours for The American Battlefields Foundation, Gettysburg College's Civil War Institute and the Chambersburg Civil War Seminars. He was also a passionate lover of nature who found joy in hiking through forests, fishing and crabbing tributaries of the Chesapeake-and sharing those experiences with anyone lucky enough to join him. Music remained central to his life. He played guitar with enthusiasm and experimented in songwriting-always exploring new ways to express himself creatively. A true adventurer at heart, he lived briefly in Germany and for several years in Nashville. Bob backpacked through much of Central America and dabbled in photography, scuba diving, skydiving, sailing-and whatever else might offer a new perspective on life. He spent most of his life in the farm house where he was born and was known among those close to him as a "ridiculously gregarious recluse"-a paradox that somehow fit him perfectly. While he often sought solitude for reflection or writing, retreats into nature or history bookshelves-he also lit up rooms with stories drawn from his travels or interviews with musical greats. Bob's commitment to causes greater than himself was evident throughout his life. He gave time and energy altruistically to environmental efforts as well as humanitarian and animal welfare initiatives-quietly supporting what mattered most to him without seeking recognition. His legacy is preserved not only through his published works but also through The Bob Allen Papers housed at The Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University. This extensive collection-25 linear feet of manuscript papers, news clippings, photographs and audio cassettes-offers future generations insight into both his career and character. Bob is remembered by his sister Diane Allen and her husband David Otto. He was preceded in death by his mother Anne Allen and father Glenn Allen. May Robert Glenn "Bob" Allen's memory bring comfort to those who knew him-and may his words continue to inspire readers for generations to come. In lieu of other forms of sympathy expression, monetary contributions in Bob's memory may be shared with: Shore Rivers, 114 S. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601, 443-385-0511, shorerivers.org.