Hey, I’m Allen Smith, lead singer and acoustic guitarist for The Crowd.

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started playing bass guitar when I was 13 and eventually moved over to guitar. My first guitar was a solid-body Gretsch — and yes, I really wish I still had it.

I grew up in the 80s, so my musical influences have always been a mix of great country and great rock. On the country side, artists like Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Darius Rucker have all influenced me. And I’ve always loved rock bands and artists like Journey, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Bryan Adams and the Foo Fighters.

But there’s something about the country music of the 90s that just feels like home to me. The songs, the stories, the harmonies and the memories attached to them are a big part of why I love doing what we do with The Crowd.

At the end of the day, I love God, my wife, my family, and getting the chance to play music with some great friends.

I’ve always believed you should play the music that makes you happy.

This music does.

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Hello, I’m Doug Ramsey from Magnolia AR. I started playing guitar when I was about 10 years old and had a great teacher, my dad, Buddy Ramsey. I’ve had a lot of great players influence my guitar playing style, some of them from the Shreveport area ! Joe Perot, Kenny McCarty, Leland  Green, James Burton all great players !!!  I played in the staff band of a country music show in Magnolia for 17 years and really got a lot of experience playing all the different types of songs on the show. It seems the more I learn on the guitar , the more I realize I don’t know ! Music is truly amazing and can touch so many! I’m thankful  for the gift God blessed me with!!!​

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 My name is Paul Hughes, and music has been a part of my life since I was 13 years old, when I first picked up a guitar. My musical journey began with the classic country music of the 1950s and 1960s. The gentleman who taught me to play was deeply rooted in traditional country, introducing me to legends such as Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, and many others. 

Those early lessons not only taught me how to play guitar but also gave me a lifelong appreciation for great songwriting and musicianship.

Throughout the 1980s, I continued playing guitar and performing with local bands. During that time, some of my biggest country music influences were Alabama, Restless Heart, Collin Raye, and Ronnie Milsap. The bands I played with spent countless hours working on vocal harmonies, a skill and passion that still influence my music today.

As I entered college, I gradually migrated from guitar to piano and keyboards. The change was more out of necessity than design. The bands I was involved with could always find guitar players, but keyboard players were hard to come by. Since I knew a few chords and had a basic understanding of music theory, I stepped behind the keyboard and never looked back.

As my musical tastes expanded, I developed a strong appreciation for the rock music of the 1970s and 1980s. Some of my biggest influences in that genre include Journey, Loverboy, Foreigner, and Little River Band. Their melodies, harmonies, and powerful live performances continue to inspire me every time I step on stage.

Two of my proudest musical memories came early in my career. I had the opportunity to perform with Faith Perry, who later became known worldwide as Faith Hill, before she achieved national fame. Our band also opened for Garth Brooks before he became a household name, an experience that remains one of the highlights of my time in music.

While I've always enjoyed playing in bands, I also enjoy performing solo piano and vocal shows. In my solo work, my greatest influences are Billy Joel and Elton John. Their ability to combine outstanding piano playing, songwriting, and stage presence has always inspired me and continues to shape my approach to performing.

Music has been a lifelong passion for me. Whether playing guitar, piano, or singing harmony in a band, I am grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and memories that music has brought into my life.

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More to come... Stay tuned! ❤️✌️🤘🤠