Allan Dale Sizemore
Songs From Trout Valley
Allan got his first guitar from the trash. Growing up in the hollow of Trout Valley WV, they were hard to come by. His uncle brought it to him, an old Harmony, one string, hole in the back. But, to him, it was a piece of magic. He would sit and fool around on it, picking out melodies. That summer, his Uncle T taught him some banjo chords when Allan would come up to split kindling, carry in water from the old well, mow the grass, whatever needed done. He did that for all his Aunts and Uncles in the valley, and there was always plenty to do. He started working in the hayfields when he was 10, and saved up enough money to buy his own guitar. He sat and played it for hours and hours when he had the time, and wrote his first song when he was 15. He hasn't stopped yet. Songwriting is what he does. Hundreds of songs later, he is still writing and he spent the last year writing many more. The new album "The Quiet Garden" is part of those songs, and part of some songs that were written 30 years ago. The artwork for the album was done by his son Tobias, age 9 at the time.
Now 13, Tobias is already well on his way as a musician, and even wrote a song with his Dad recently. Allan hopes he can get on stage with him soon!
Allan has been an ASCAP member since 1989 and has had hundreds of songs published. He has been a content provider for various TV shows and commercials, including the hit TV series Barnwood Builders, where he was also music consultant for the first two seasons. He has played on various stages over the years with such luminaries as The Wood Brothers, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Steeldrivers, The Avett Brothers and many more as well as having been fortunate enough to play such festivals as Merlefest, The John Hartford Memorial Festival, Live on the Levee, Bristol Rhythm and Roots , The Lowell Folk Festival, the Americana Music Festival and too many others to remember....he has also had his songs featured on PBS' All Songs Considered and won various awards over the years for songwriting. Needless to say, he has been around, back again, and now back around! He plans to keep going until he's called to the Songwriter's Circle in the Sky, whenever that may be. Until then, onward!
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