ˈælən wʌz ɹˈɪɹd ɪnðə smˈɔːl tˈaʊn ʌv ɡˈælɐtˌɪn, sˌʌm θˈɜːɾi fˈaɪv mˈaɪlz nˈɔːɹθiːst ʌv nˈæʃvɪl, baɪ ɐn ˈæfɹɪkənɐmˈɛɹɪkən dəmˈɛstɪk hˌuː wˈɜːkt fɔːɹ hɪz ɡɹˈændpɛɹənts.
Allen was reared in the small town of Gallatin, some 35 miles northeast of Nashville, by an African-American domestic who worked for his grandparents.