T ■ ■ ■ I t isn’t always an easy thing to remember the past. And when famed musician Barclay Allen is asked to do so it’s likely to produce the effect of a man recalling a night mare (see photo opposite page). In the popular music world Allen was big-time in the forties. He was pianist for both the Kay Kaiser and Freddy Martin orchestras. From these limelight positions it was an easy step to forming his own orchestra. And as Barclay Allen puts it today, "W e really were too fortunate.” He played for 23 weeks at the Palmer House in Chicago and then on to other such famed spots as the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco. But all success stories must end and for Barclay Allen the end came with a grinding crash. He was returning to
San Francisco from a Nevada engagement late one night and he fell asleep at the wheel. His car plunged over a cliff and when he was discovered the next morning his neck was broken and he was in a coma. Doctors gave him barely two hours to live. That was eight years ago. Completely paralyzed, Allen spent the next two years in bed. He slid from a husky 203 pounds to 80. He was so bitter he hated everyone — especially the pastor o f the Emanuel Lutheran Church in North Hollywood who called regularly. But during one of those calls Barclay Allen ex changed his bitterness for faith in Jesus Christ. And since that day Allen has been using his musical talent to write Christian songs.
Two years after accident Allen was able to leave bed for wheel chair. Close family friends, Rosetta Case Bent and daughter
Roberta are now working with him on music; Allen writes the music, Mrs. Case the words and Roberta sings the new songs.
The King's Business/Jonuory 1958
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