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Red Allen

Harley Allen (February 12, 1930 – April 3, 1993), professionally known as Red Allen, was an American singer and guitarist celebrated for his powerful voice that epitomized the "high lonesome sound" of the . Born in Pigeon Roost Hollow in eastern 's Perry County, Allen grew up listening to during the and began his professional career after serving in the , starting with appearances on the Kentucky in in 1951. He rose to prominence in the mid-1950s as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Mountain Boys (1952–1954) and later with the Osborne Brothers (1956–1958), recording 16 tracks for , including classics like "Ruby, Are You Mad?" and "Once More," which showcased innovative vocal harmonies such as the "high lead" trio style. In 1959, Allen formed his own band, Red Allen & the Kentuckians, collaborating with mandolinist to produce influential albums like the Folkways release Red Allen, and the Kentuckians, which highlighted his work and straight-ahead style. He continued his career through the 1960s and 1970s, temporarily replacing in Flatt & Scruggs in 1967 (due to Flatt's heart attack), recording with and the Kentucky Mountain Boys on the 1969 album Bluegrass Holiday, and later forming Red Allen & the Allen Brothers with his sons, including Neal and Harley, in the 1970s and 1980s, releasing albums on labels like County and Rebel. Allen also worked as a bluegrass DJ on WDXL-FM in , from 1979, where he had settled and become a key figure in the local scene. A of over two dozen songs, including "It Hurts to Know" and "Keep On Going," he performed at landmark venues like in 1963 and was posthumously inducted into the International Association's Hall of Fame in 2005 for his enduring impact on vocals and .

Early Life and Background

Childhood in Kentucky

Harley Allen, better known as Red Allen, was born on February 12, 1930, in Pigeon Roost Hollow, , near , a remote area in the known for its communities. Growing up in eastern during the , he experienced the hardships of in a region where economic opportunities were scarce and families often relied on subsistence farming and mining labor. Formal education was limited for many children in such isolated hollows, with Allen leaving home at a young age to make his own way, reflecting the era's socioeconomic pressures that pushed young people into early independence. Allen's family environment provided an early immersion in the rich traditions of , where music served as a vital source of entertainment and cultural continuity. His mother, an accomplished old-time fiddler and singer, played a pivotal role in his initial musical influences, sharing and stories passed down through generations. This home-based exposure was complemented by community elements, including gatherings where hymns reinforced the region's vocal styles. A defining aspect of his childhood musical awakening came through limited but impactful access to outside sounds via a battery-powered radio, a common fixture in Depression-era homes. Allen regularly tuned in to broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry, where he first heard the Monroe Brothers and later and the Blue Grass Boys, whose high-lonesome harmonies and instrumentation captivated him as a boy. Around age nine or ten, his enthusiasm led him to walk eight miles to attend a live show featuring Monroe and the Kentucky Pardners, an event that solidified his connection to the emerging sound.

Initial Musical Experiences

Harley "Red" Allen, born in 1930 in Pigeon Roost Hollow near , began his initial musical engagements during his late teenage years amid the rich folk traditions of eastern . Around age 17, he acquired his first guitar and began learning the basics of guitar playing, influenced by local musicians in the community. This early exposure built on his childhood fascination with , which he first encountered as a young boy by listening to the Grand Ole Opry on a battery-powered radio, a common way for Depression-era youth in the region to discover the genre. Allen's development was largely self-taught; by his late teens, he had mastered basic chords like G, C, and D, along with simple runs, relying on persistent practice and a strong right-hand rhythm technique. He adapted elements of Bill Monroe's innovative style to the guitar, creating a choppy, driving rhythm that became a hallmark of his playing and reflected the high-energy sound emerging at the time. Allen also began singing in a high voice, practicing informally to emulate the lonesome quality of early country vocalists. In the local scene around , Allen participated in informal music-making at community events, drawing inspiration from regional artists such as and broadcasts from early country radio programs. These experiences shaped his foundational skills before any formal involvement. Prior to his , he formed casual groups with school friends, jamming on and tunes that echoed the cultural roots evident in his later musical style.

Professional Career

Formative Years and Early Bands

After completing his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he enlisted at age 17 and served for two years starting around 1947, Harley "Red" Allen began transitioning into music professionally. During his time in the Marines, Allen played guitar during informal barracks sessions, honing his skills amid the demands of military life. In 1949, following his discharge, Allen relocated to Dayton, Ohio, initially seeking factory employment but soon immersing himself in the burgeoning local bluegrass scene. There, he secured his first professional engagement as a rhythm guitarist with the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys, marking his entry into paid performances around the area's venues. Throughout the early 1950s, Allen gained experience through brief stints with various regional groups, while building connections in Ohio's vibrant music community. A pivotal moment came in 1952 when Allen met mandolinist Frank Wakefield, leading to the formation of short-lived duos and the Blue Mountain Boys, which also featured banjoist Noah Crase from 1952 to 1954. This collaboration allowed Allen to refine his work and lead vocals in live settings across and . His high lonesome vocal style started to take shape during these formative performances. Allen's debut recordings occurred around 1954 on a small Kentucky label, featuring tracks such as "Don't Wake Me" and "" with a band that included Crase on . These early singles, released between 1954 and 1956, emphasized original compositions and showcased his emerging tenor voice in a traditional context.

Major Collaborations and Breakthroughs

In 1956, Red Allen joined the Osborne Brothers as lead singer and guitarist, marking a significant step in his career toward national recognition in . This partnership resulted in the recording of "Once More," a 1957 MGM that showcased innovative inverted stacked harmonies and became a genre standard, reaching the country charts in 1958. In 1967, Allen briefly joined and the Nashville Grass as a replacement during Flatt's recovery from a heart attack, performing with the Foggy Mountain Boys and contributing to their shows. By 1960, Allen formed Red Allen & the Kentuckians, collaborating closely with mandolinist Frank Wakefield to create a tight ensemble that blended traditional with dynamic performances. The band gained prominence through appearances at the inaugural Oak Leaf Bluegrass Festival in , on July 4, 1961, one of the earliest dedicated events, and their New York debut at on September 21, 1963, during the Sing Out! concert, where they delivered a distinctive country-infused set. Allen's ties to the New York Folk Revival in 1963 included gigs at , exposing his music to urban audiences amid the burgeoning folk scene. These years also featured key collaborations, such as the 1964 Folkways album Bluegrass with Wakefield, produced by a young , which highlighted Allen's high lonesome lead vocals alongside precise harmonies. Later in the decade, Allen worked with banjoist on recordings like the 1968 Lemco album Bluegrass Holiday, emphasizing robust vocal arrangements that influenced subsequent bluegrass trios.

Later Recordings and Performances

In the 1970s, Red Allen transitioned to leading family-oriented bands, recording with his sons Neal, Greg, and Harley Allen Jr., who provided instrumental and vocal support on albums such as Allengrass (Lemco, 1973) and My Old Kentucky Home (King Bluegrass, 1973), which highlighted traditional bluegrass standards performed in a close-knit ensemble style. These efforts marked a shift toward more personal, homegrown projects after years in larger collaborations, with the family members contributing banjo, mandolin, and harmonies to tracks like "Roust-A-Bout" and "Hobo Joe." Following open-heart surgery in 1976, Allen scaled back full-time touring but continued selective recordings and performances, prioritizing health while maintaining his signature high tenor vocals adjusted to a higher lead range for comfort. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw Allen align with Smithsonian Folkways for a series of albums that showcased his enduring vocal prowess and bandleading, including Live and Let Live (1979), featuring sons Greg and Harley alongside the Kentuckians on originals and classics like "I Don't Love Nobody"; In Memory of the Man: Dedicated to Lester Flatt (1980), a tribute with heartfelt renditions of Flatt's repertoire; Family and Friends (1981), reuniting with sons including Harley for intimate tracks; and The Red Allen Tradition (1983), collaborating with veterans Vassar Clements on fiddle and Josh Graves on dobro for a blend of traditional and progressive bluegrass. These releases emphasized Allen's ability to foster collaborative sessions with longtime associates, transitioning from King Bluegrass's regional sound to Folkways' broader archival focus on bluegrass heritage. Despite health challenges, Allen reformed variants of the Kentuckians in the mid-1980s, including the New Kentuckians in 1984, for regional touring near his home, performing at festivals and radio shows like his WDXL-FM DJ slot in 1979, where he shared anecdotes and took listener requests. In his final years, declining health limited activity, but he contributed to the Grammy-nominated Bluegrass Reunion (Acoustic Disc, 1992), a live session with , , Jim Buchanan, and guest , capturing spirited takes on tunes like "Back Up and Push" at the Great American Music Hall—marking one of his last major performances before his death from on April 3, 1993.

Musical Style and Contributions

Vocal Technique and Arrangements

Red Allen was renowned for his signature high tenor voice, which embodied the "high lonesome sound" emblematic of , drawing direct influence from Bill Monroe's pioneering style. His leads featured an emotional, heartfelt delivery that conveyed deep personal conviction, often with a blues-inflected quiver that added raw intensity to songs like "Once More," where his baritone support underscored the innovative vocal layering. Allen's expertise in singing was equally defining, particularly his parts in trios alongside the Osborne Brothers, where he helped pioneer the "high lead" style—featuring two voices below the for a fuller, more dynamic sound. This approach revolutionized vocal arrangements, blending gospel quartet traditions with secular material to create tight, emotive blends that emphasized authenticity over embellishment. On the 1964 album Bluegrass with Frank Wakefield and the Kentuckians, Allen's harmonies in tracks like duets and trios showcased his characteristic style, sustaining notes with precise control to maintain the genre's unadorned, essence rooted in roots. In live performances and recordings such as 1960s versions of "Doin' My Time," Allen's phrasing highlighted narrative flow, using sustained phrasing to evoke the isolation and resilience of themes, while his avoidance of studio overproduction preserved the music's visceral, unfiltered quality. These elements—evident in the vocal layering of trio harmonies on "Once More," which marked a in three-part singing—solidified Allen's role as a vocal innovator who prioritized emotional depth and harmonic innovation.

Guitar Work and Band Leadership

Red Allen was renowned for his strong rhythm guitar playing, which provided a solid foundation for ensembles and propelled the emotional drive of performances. His style emphasized a powerful, consistent backbeat that supported lead instruments like the , drawing clear influence from Flatt's approach in Flatt & Scruggs. This rhythmic intensity was evident in his recordings with the Kentuckians during the 1960s, where his guitar work underpinned intricate arrangements without overshadowing the band's overall sound. As a band leader, Allen demonstrated a commitment to building stable lineups, most notably with the formation of Red Allen and the Kentuckians in 1959 alongside mandolinist . The group, based in the , area, featured consistent members such as banjoist Bill Emerson and bassist Tom Morgan in its early years, evolving to include players like the Yates Brothers and Porter Church through the 1960s. Allen's leadership extended to mentoring emerging talent; after Wakefield's departure in 1964 to join the Greenbriar Boys, he recruited young mandolinist as a replacement in 1966, giving Grisman his first professional gig and fostering his development within the genre. By the , following personnel shifts including Grisman's exit to pursue other projects, Allen shifted toward family integration, relocating to , in 1969 to form Red Allen and the Allen Brothers with his four sons—Harley, Neal, Greg, and Ronnie—creating a more intimate unit that recorded the album Allengrass in 1973. This evolution reflected Allen's adaptive management style, prioritizing reliability and personal connections to sustain the band's momentum amid the era's touring demands.

Innovations in Bluegrass

Red Allen advanced by integrating elements from the urban revival scene of 1960s , where he performed at key venues like in December 1963, exposing traditional to broader audiences amid the rising popularity of acts. His appearances, including a notable at on September 21, 1963, with his band the Kentuckians, helped popularize in non-traditional urban settings, influencing the format of later and festivals by demonstrating the genre's adaptability to concert hall environments. In terms of genre blending, Allen's early collaborations with mandolinist marked a subtle shift toward progressive influences, as Grisman joined Allen's Kentuckians in 1966, bringing nascent -inflected mandolin techniques into an otherwise traditional framework. This partnership foreshadowed fusions of with elements that Grisman would later expand upon in his "Dawg music." Allen's unique vocal style, drawing from influences, further bridged rural traditions with urban folk sensibilities, earning him recognition as one of the genre's greatest innovators while staying rooted in its core. Allen pushed arrangement innovations by incorporating original material beyond Bill Monroe's standards, composing or co-composing 24 songs such as "Keep On Going" and "It Hurts to Know," which emphasized personal storytelling and emotional depth in structures. His work with the Osborne Brothers in the popularized innovative high-lead harmony patterns, enhancing vocal interplay and setting a template for progressive arrangements. In the 1970s, Allen's albums with his sons (the Allen Brothers), including gospel-infused tracks on releases like the 1975 Red Allen Favorites, highlighted hybrids of instrumentation with sacred themes, blending secular drive with spiritual resonance to expand the genre's thematic scope. Technically, Allen advocated for improved studio practices, contributing to the clarity of vocal harmonies on albums like the 1964 Folkways Bluegrass, which utilized multi-microphone setups to capture the band's intricate arrangements with unprecedented fidelity for the era. This approach, evident in his recordings across labels like County and Rebel, elevated bluegrass production standards and influenced subsequent studio techniques for harmony-heavy ensembles.

Legacy and Influence

Awards and Honors

Red Allen's contributions to were formally recognized through several key awards and honors, particularly in the later stages of his career and posthumously, highlighting his vocal prowess and in the . In 1995, Allen was inducted into the Society for the Preservation of of (SPBGMA) Hall of Fame, acknowledging his lifetime achievements as a singer, , and bandleader who helped shape the sound of during its formative commercial years. This posthumous induction, two years after his death, underscored the enduring impact of his work with groups like the Osborne Brothers and his own Red Allen and the Kentuckians, especially in the post-1950s era when he transitioned to leading his family band. Following his passing in 1993, Allen received further posthumous recognition with his 2005 induction into the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Bluegrass Hall of Fame, where he was celebrated alongside fiddler Benny Martin for his innovative vocal harmonies and rhythmic guitar style that influenced generations of performers. The ceremony, held in Nashville, featured tributes from family and peers, emphasizing how Allen's mid-career recordings on labels like and solidified his status as a pillar of traditional . Allen also earned a Grammy Award nomination in 1993 for Best Bluegrass Album for Bluegrass Reunion, a collaborative project with David Grisman, Herb Pedersen, and Jerry Garcia that revived classic material and showcased his timeless lead vocals. Additionally, he was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, a prestigious commendation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his cultural contributions as a native of the state's eastern mountains. These accolades collectively reflect the high regard in which Allen was held for bridging bluegrass's traditional roots with broader audiences during his extensive touring and recording career.

Impact on Bluegrass and Family Continuation

Red Allen's mentorship played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of prominent bluegrass musicians, including David Grisman, whom he hired for his first professional mandolin position in the band the Kentuckians during the mid-1960s. Grisman credited Allen with providing a rigorous "college education in bluegrass music," later producing several of his albums and reuniting for collaborative projects that underscored their mutual influence. Similarly, Allen's collaborations with J.D. Crowe in the 1960s, including recordings like Bluegrass Holiday (originally released in 1968 and reissued by Rebel Records), helped refine Crowe's banjo technique and bandleading approach, establishing a model for tight ensemble playing in the genre. Allen's distinctive high-tenor vocal style, characterized by its raw emotional intensity, inspired later singers pursuing the high lonesome sound, such as Ralph Stanley II, whose phrasing echoes Allen's emotive delivery on classics like "Chilly Winds." Allen's connections to New York City's folk scene through his Folkways Records association in the 1960s contributed to bluegrass's urbanization, exposing the genre to diverse urban audiences beyond its Appalachian roots and fostering a broader national appeal. This legacy endures through key archival reissues, such as The Folkways Years 1964-1983 (Smithsonian Folkways, 2001), which compiles his innovative Folkways sessions featuring collaborations with Frank Wakefield and highlights his role in blending traditional bluegrass with emerging progressive elements. More recently, the 2025 David Grisman Bluegrass Reunion project revisits their partnership, drawing on archival material with contributions from artists like J.D. Crowe, Sam Bush, and Tony Rice to celebrate Allen's foundational contributions to the genre's evolution. Allen's influence extended into his family, where his sons—Ronnie, Greg, Neal, and Harley—formed the Allen Brothers band in the early 1970s, performing and recording as a unit that blended their father's traditional style with contemporary arrangements. Operating through the 1970s and 1980s, the group released albums like Allengrass (Lemco, ), preserving Allen's rhythmic guitar drive and vocal harmonies while introducing fresh material that kept the family sound vital. , the eldest son and bassist, remained active in circles until his death on February 21, 2017, at age 67, after which surviving family members continued to honor their heritage through performances and recordings. In the 2020s, Allen's work has seen renewed appreciation through tributes and digital accessibility, including discussions at International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) events that contextualize his urbanizing impact, as well as streaming surges for songs like "Once More" (originally a 1958 hit with the Osborne Brothers), which has gained traction on platforms like amid broader revivals. These efforts, alongside family-led preservations, ensure Allen's high-energy arrangements and tenor leads remain a touchstone for contemporary artists exploring bluegrass's roots and innovations.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Red Allen married Clara Mae Allen in the late 1940s, and together they raised five sons—Ronnie (born 1949), Greg, Neal (also known as Gary Neal), Mark Anthony, and Harley—and three daughters, Devonna, Debbie, and Sally Kathy, in Dayton, Ohio, where the family settled after Allen's migration from eastern Kentucky. The children grew up immersed in their father's musical world but faced the challenges of his frequent absences due to touring and performances, which defined much of the family's road-oriented lifestyle during the 1950s and 1960s. Following his divorce from in 1959, Allen married Allen in 1962, forming a lifelong that provided stability amid his demanding . supported the family's base in Dayton, helping balance the non-musical aspects of home life, including Allen's occasional work in local industries to supplement income during slower periods in music. Their relationship endured through Allen's health struggles, particularly after his open-heart surgery in the late , when family encouragement aided his recovery and return to performing at a more selective pace. While specific influences from siblings in his early career are not well-documented, Allen's ties to Ohio's circles—fostered through local radio, bars, and festivals—strengthened and social networks that sustained his personal and professional life. The sons, all musicians, occasionally joined their father's band in the , reflecting the deep familial bonds in traditions.

Health and Death

In the mid-1970s, Red Allen faced significant health challenges that impacted his career. In 1976, he underwent open-heart surgery, which prompted his temporary from full-time and touring. Following recovery, he resumed performing locally in the , area while limiting extensive travel, allowing him to maintain a presence in circles through regional gigs and occasional recordings. Allen's health deteriorated further in his final years due to . He passed away on April 3, 1993, in , at the age of 63, from complications related to the disease. Funeral services for Allen were held in , drawing members of the bluegrass community to pay respects. He was buried at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Miamisburg. In the immediate aftermath, his family managed personal affairs amid tributes from peers highlighting his enduring contributions to the genre.

Discography

Studio Albums

Red Allen's studio albums span from the late 1950s to the early , reflecting his evolution from collaborations with early ensembles to family-led projects and tributes, often emphasizing traditional standards alongside select originals. These recordings, primarily on independent labels, showcase his high lonesome tenor vocals and work within classic arrangements. His early output includes the 1959 MGM release Country Pickin' And Hillside Singin', a collaborative effort with the Osborne Brothers featuring tracks like "Ruby (Are You Mad)" and "Down In The Willow Garden," blending and elements. In 1964, Allen recorded Red Allen, Frank Wakefield And The Kentuckians for Folkways, with personnel including mandolinist Frank Wakefield and ist Bill Keith, highlighting traditional tunes such as "Little Maggie" and "New Camptown Races." The following year, Solid Bluegrass Sound Of The Kentuckians on Melodeon featured Bill Emerson on and the Yates brothers, including covers like "Froggie Went A' Courtin'" and the original-leaning "." The mid-1960s saw releases on County Records, starting with Bluegrass Country, Vol. 1 in 1966, involving fiddler and banjoist Porter Church, centered on standards like "Summertime Is Past And Gone." This was followed by Red Allen And The Kentuckians in 1967, again with Grisman and Church, emphasizing ballads such as "We Live In Two Different Worlds." By 1968, Bluegrass Holiday on Lemco marked a shift with on banjo and on mandolin, incorporating instrumentals like "Orange Blossom Special" alongside vocal tracks including "Little Girl In ." Entering the , Allen increasingly involved his , as in the 1972 Lemco Allengrass, with sons Neal on and Greg on , featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary material like "." The 1973 release My Old Kentucky Home continued this focus, with tracks evoking regional heritage such as "" and "Molly And Tenbrooks." In 1975, Favorites on , supported by sons Gregg and Harley Jr. plus dobroist Buck Graves, highlighted personal selections including "Branded" and "Two Lonely Hearts." Later albums returned to collaborations, including the 1976 Red Clay recording simply titled Red Allen, reuniting with and Don Stover on , with reflective pieces like "If I Should Wander Back Tonight." The 1979 Folkways album (studio-recorded despite the title) featured Greg Allen and Dorsey Harvey, including "Doing My Time." A 1980 Folkways tribute, Red Allen Sings In Memory Of The Man, , involved Harley Jr. and Curly Seckler, covering Flatt-associated songs like "I’ll Take The Blame." The 1980s brought family-oriented Folkways releases, such as 1981's Family And Friends with Harley Jr. and , blending covers like "She’s Country" with originals including "Dig A Hole In The Meadow." In 1983, Red Allen Tradition featured Harley Jr. and Mike Lilly, mixing classics with modern tracks like "." Allen's final studio effort, the 1992 Acoustic Disc album Bluegrass Reunion, united him with and , highlighting collaborations on "Back Up And Push" and "She’s No Angel."

Compilations and Posthumous Releases

Following Red Allen's death in 1993, a series of compilations and posthumous releases emerged, drawing from archival tapes, radio broadcasts, and previously unreleased sessions to preserve his contributions to . These collections, numbering over five major efforts, often highlight undiscovered material, including outtakes from his 1980s Folkways sessions and earlier collaborations, offering fans deeper insight into his raw vocal style and guitar work. Many feature remastering for modern formats, with bonus tracks emphasizing his partnerships with artists like Frank Wakefield and . One of the earliest posthumous releases was The Kitchen Tapes in 1994, a 25-track collection of live and studio outtakes recorded in 1963 with Frank Wakefield in . Captured informally by on a home , it showcases Allen's high on classics like "I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail" and tunes such as "Sweetheart You've Done Me Wrong," providing an unpolished glimpse of his early -era sound. Released by Acoustic Disc, the underscores the archival value of private sessions that might otherwise have been lost. In 2001, issued The Folkways Years, 1964-1983, a comprehensive compiling selections from Allen's four albums on the label, augmented by six previously unreleased tracks from 1980s sessions. This release emphasizes undiscovered material, including heartfelt renditions of "Bluegrass Blues" and numbers like "Are You Washed in the Blood?," highlighting his from high-energy leads to more introspective performances later in his career. The remastered set, produced under the , serves as a key document of his mid-to-late period productivity. Rebel Records followed with two significant 2004 compilations focused on Allen's 1960s output. Keep On Going: The Rebel & Melodeon Recordings gathers 23 tracks from 1963-1965 sessions, including five previously unissued cuts with and the Kentuckians, such as "Don't Lie to Me" and "Lonesome Weary Heart." Complementing it, Lonesome and Blue: The Complete County Recordings collects 25 songs from his 1966-1969 County label work, featuring remastered versions of "I'm Lonesome and Blue" and instrumentals like "Maiden's Prayer," with bonus material from scattered singles. Both emphasize high-fidelity remastering and contextual on Allen's D.C. scene influence. The 2010s saw further archival digs, including digital reissues and specialized collections. Acoustic Disc's Live on the Radio 1966 (2011) presents 16 tracks from a WDON broadcast with the Kentuckians, capturing live energy on songs like "I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes," while Patuxent Music's The WDON Recordings 1963 (2014) offers 22 radio performances with , including rarities like "Deep Elem Blues." These, along with platform reissues on and , introduced bonus material and improved audio quality to new audiences. The 2019 deluxe edition of Bluegrass Reunion by Acoustic Disc adds two unreleased tracks with to the 1992 original, featuring archival vocals from Allen's final studio effort. Box sets and singles collections from the onward, such as digital compilations on streaming services, continue to include remastered bonus material, ensuring Allen's undiscovered 1980s sessions and beyond remain accessible.

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