T.R. Dallas
| Tom Allen | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | T.R. Dallas |
| Born | Moate, Westmeath, Ireland |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1970 – present |
| Website | www.trdallas.net/ |
T.R. Dallas is an Irish country singer.[1] Dallas appeared on the Irish music scene in 1970 and has since become known across the British isles.[2] The singer's real name is Tom Allen and he is the brother of Foster and Allen's, Tony Allen. He was born in Moate, Co. Westmeath, Ireland and first came to prominence in 1970 when he joined the Finnavons Showband which had previously been fronted by Gerry Black.
A few years later, Tom joined the Sailors Showband and continued to work as a "middle of the road" country singer. His first big break came in 1978 when he was picked to replace John Glenn as the lead singer with the legendary Mainliners Showband, which had previously found fame and fortune with "Big Tom" McBride as their singer. The move gave Tom national exposure and when the opportunity came, he was ready.
His second big break came just over a year later.In May, 1980 (in Ireland), the final episode of Dallas aired with JR Ewing getting shot by an unknown assailant. Less than a month later, Tom Allen had recorded the song, "Who Shot JR Ewing?", changed his name to T.R. Dallas and had a hit record on his hands. The record went to number 10 in the Irish charts and catapulted Tom to the top of the Irish country scene. A few months later, he had an even bigger hit with the Mac Davis song, "Lord, It's Hard to Be Humble" which reached number 6 in the Irish charts.
Since then, T.R. Dallas has continued to perform around Ireland and the UK, releasing several singles and an album during the 80's and 90's. None of them cracked the Irish top ten.
Tom Allen also served as a Fianna Fáil Councillor for the Athlone Local Electoral Area on Westmeath County Council from 1999 to 2014.
Discography
- Ghost Story / I Wouldn't Want To Live If You Didn't Love Me /I Reecall A Gypsy Woman (with the Sailors) Release Records Cat: RL.828 Released January 1976
- The Family That Prays (with the Mainliners) May, 1978
- You Are My Sunshine (with the Mainliners) December, 1978
- Who Shot J.R. Ewing / Mrs. Jones (as TR Dallas) CMR Records Cat: CM 007 Released Jun-80 Number 10 in the Irish Charts
- Lord It's hard To be Humble / Selection of Reels CMR Records Cat: CM 011 Released Sep-80 Number 6 in the Irish Charts
- Kisses On The Door CMR Records Cat: CM 028 Released in early 1981
- Daddy's Girl / Pub With No Beer CMR Records Cat:CM.027 Released Dec, 81 Reached number 26 in the Irish Charts
- It'll Come Back CMR Records CAT: CM 031
- Big Tom Doesn't Play Here Anymore / Faded Picture CMR Records Cat: CM 034
- I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home CMR Records Cat: CM 040
- Album: Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me CMR Records Cat: CMLP 1008 Released in 1982
- Diet Song / Candlelight And Wine CMR Records Cat: CM 044 J Released in 1983
- Rose of Mooncoin CMR Records Cat: CM 061
- I Don't Work For A Living / I Got To Get Rid Of This Band CMR Records Cat: CM.063 Released in 1986
- 21 Acres of Land Chart Records Number 22 in the Irish Charts Released in Dec, 1987
- The Story I Tell You Is True[3]
- Rambling Boy
- Be My Guest