The Evolution of Rance Allen

The evolution of Bishop Rance Allen

Young Preacher - One of a dozen kids, Allen was touched by God from a very early age. He started preaching in 1953, at age 5, and before he was 10 he had a following across the Midwest.   (photo: STAX Records)

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The Evolution of Rance Allen - Born in Monroe, Michigan, Rance Allen knew that he had a calling from an early age. The Gospel star started out ministering the Word as a 5-year-old and by the time he was 9, he had a following in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His gift was no joke and Rance Allen became a licensed pastor by the time he was 12. (Photo: STAX Records)

"I Belong to You" (1978) - The Rance Allen Group scored its first Top 30 hit in 1978 with "I Belong to You." The track became an R&B hit and demonstrated the group's style of fusing rock and soul into gospel music.   (Photo: Gospel Truth Records)

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The Rance Allen Group - In 1969, Bishop Allen formed the gospel trio The Rance Allen Group with two of his brothers. They were trailblazers in contemporary gospel, fusing soul music with gospel for a new sound. (Photo: Gospel Truth Records)

Photo By Photo: Gospel

Great Man of Gospel - Rance Allen was celebrated by his peers when he was named one of the Great Men of Gospel by the Black Academy of Arts and Letters in 2009.  (Photo: Earl E. Gibson III/BET)

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Giving Back - In 1995, Bishop Allen was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by the Urban Bible Institute of Detroit for his years in the ministry and his contributions for helping inner-city communities around him. (Photo: Earl E. Gibson III/BET)

Photo By Photo: Earl E. Gibson III/BET

The Evolution of Rance Allen - Whether as a preacher or a singer, Rance Allen has spent more than 60 years spreading the word of God. The Monroe, Michigan, native created a new style of gospel through the Rance Allen Group, which he founded. Now, a look back at his remarkable career.  (Photo: Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

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Celebrated - In 2009, Rance Allen was named one of the Great Men of Gospel by the Black Academy of Arts and Letters for his in comparable voice and contribution to gospel music. (Photo: Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

Celebration of Gospel - The Rance Allen Group are set to bring down the house once again at the 2013 Celebration of Gospel, where they are set to perform for the fourth year in a row. The Celebration of Gospel airs on April 7 at 8P/7C, only on BET!  (Photo: Ilya Dreyvitser/WireImage)

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The Stax Years - Traditionally, Stax Records was known as a hub for R&B and soul artists, but one of their most successful acts was the Rance Allen Group. During their tenure at Stax, the Rance Allen Group became known for their hits “Ain’t No Need of Crying,” their cover of The Temptations' “Just My Imagination” and their original hit, “I Belong to You.”  (Photo: Ilya Dreyvitser/WireImage)

First Comes Love - Allen married evangelist Ellen Marie Groves in December 1970. The couple share a love of music and God, and have worked side by side in ministries since their marriage. Though they never had any children, they are godparents to several.(Photo: Randi Radcliff/Getty Images for The Stellar Awards)

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Living Legend - During the 2009 Stellar Awards, The Rance Allen Group received the Bobby Jones Legend Award for the impact that they had in the industry over the course of four decades. (Photo: Randi Radcliff/Getty Images for The Stellar Awards)