Allan David Coe is a famous country music singer and songwriter. The 1939-born singer has continued to create wonderful songs and do live performances, making an income for himself, and establishing his name.
Coe began singing in 1967, and over the years, he has continued to be active in the music sector. While Coe is recognized as one of the singers in country music, he revealed in 2003 that he filed for bankruptcy, and IRS auctioned his early songs, without his knowledge.
Despite not earning a cent from his early tracks, he has continued to live a comfortable lifestyle, thanks to live performances. So, how rich is the singer-songwriter?
David Allan Coe’s Net Worth
David Allan Coe is an American songwriter, singer, and guitarist, with a net worth of $1.5 million. David was one of the best and most popular singers in the 70s and 80s, a period when he released numerous hits.
Some of Coe’s most popular songs include The Ride, Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile, She Used to Love Me A Lot and Would You Lay with Me, among others. Coe’s love for music began when he was serving time in prison.
Battles with IRS
David Allan Coe has found himself in similar situations to musicians Willie Nelson and Jerry Lee Wilson, who have had issues with the IRS. In 2003, the singer and songwriter narrated how he found out that some of his best songs were auctioned without his knowledge.
Coe revealed that IRS sold all his songs up to 1984, in an attempt to recover some money that they claimed he owed them. IRS was in a race to recover $100,000 that the songwriter owed them, which is why they sold his songs including the X-rated albums. Because he was not aware of the auction, he was not able to bid, and they were sold for $25,000 thousand. To date, he is credited as the songwriter, but he doesn’t earn any money from it.
Early Life and Career
Coe was born in Akron, Ohio in 1939. He was sent to Starr Commonwealth for Boys reform school at nine years, and most of his years were spent in orisons. While serving a prison term, he met Screaming Jay Hawkins who encouraged him to write songs.
After Coe concluded a prison term in 1967, he embarked on a music career. He lived in a hearse he parked in front of the Ryman Auditorium, and performed on the street. In later years, he attracted Shelby Singleton’s attention, who signed him into Platinum Records.
He released his first two albums and they gave birth to the outlaw country movement, which impressed singers like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. He achieved massive success between 1983 to 1989 and embarked on going for world tours in the ’90s.
David’s latest album country hit Parade and Early Years was released in 2007. The songwriter has also authored six books including an autobiography, featuring his early prison life and later reform and carer success.
