Sammy Allred RIP

[UTCzech III 2917]

Austin Chronicle

Quote

Sammy Allred, singer and mandolin player in hillbilly humorists the Geezinslaw Brothers and longtime local deejay, has died at age 84, KOKE-FM reported.

The Geezinslaw Brothers, later billed simply as the Geezinslaws, were among Austin’s first breakout musical acts. The group, led by Allred and DeWayne “Son” Smith began in the Fifties and became regulars on the popular Louisiana Hayride show in addition to opening for an early-career Elvis Presley.

In the Sixties, the musical comedy duo enjoyed stints with Columbia and Capitol Records, and regularly performed their routines on major variety shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Smothers Brothers Show, and The Roger Miller Show. Their 1969 long-playerThe Geezinslaws Are Alive (And Well?) best documents their clever songs and gags.

A Texas Radio Hall of Fame deejay, Allred was equally beloved and controversial as a morning co-host on KVET for decades. The colorful and politically conservative Austin native was the subject of a headline-making 1997 FCC complaint filed by local activist Dorothy Richter, which ultimately didn’t result in the station’s license being jeopardized. He was suspended in 2007 after calling then-Presidential hopeful Barack Obama a “clean darky,” which he did in lampooning Joe Biden’s own characterization of his running mate.

Allred returned alongside longtime friend and co-host Bob Cole two years later. He and Cole won theAustin Music Award for “Best Radio DJ” in 1993-94.

 

[4th&Five 41710]

I hadn’t thought about him in forever. My mom used to make us listen to Sam and Bob driving to school. 

[Armybrat 41016]

RIP

Sam was good friends with my parents neighbors in South Austin. Once in a while he would hang out on their back patio & entertain the folks for an evening. That was sometime in the 1960s.

Austin bicycle riders can breathe a sigh of relief.

[Deej 77234]

It's a shame Sammy died instead of Bob.

Rest in peace, Sam.