Allen Shelton was an American five-string banjo player mostly known for being a member of the bluegrass band Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys since the 1960s.
His father Troy Shelton was a guitar player mainly, but also played mandolin and banjo.
In 1966, Jim & Jesse had an offer to record with the Nashville Symphony and Shelton left the band in protest.
In total Allen recorded 89 songs with Jim & Jesse and became a part of their sound that is so iconic, and has influenced countless banjo players.
He enjoyed creating unusual sounds including adapting steel guitar licks into his solos.
Aside from his father, Troy Shelton and banjo player Hubert Davis,[5] the two main influences Shelton quotes according to the book "Masters of the 5-String Banjo" were Earl Scruggs, and Don Reno; he said he loved the right hand of Scruggs, and the left hand of Reno.
At the beginning of this same interview, Eddie Stubbs refers to a certain situation when Don Reno was asked the question; Besides himself and Earl Scruggs, who is the greatest banjo player?