McKenzie grew up in a rural area of Jackson, Ohio. In 1977, McKenzie moved with his family to Akron, Ohio. In June 1978, McKenzie graduated from Garfield High School. In September 1978, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for three years in Landau, West Germany, then three years stateside. On 8 October 2005, he married his wife Tina. They have three children. McKenzie started playing a C.R. Alsip bass customized to McKenzie's liking in July 2014. McKenzie met master luthier Jake Willoughby of C.R. Alsip Guitars through bandmate Bill Leverty in 2012. After McKenzie heard Leverty's guitar he asked Willoughby if he would be interested in building a bass guitar. Willoughby agreed, building the iconic "Guinness Harp" 5 string bass that made its first appearance onstage with McKenzie in 2014.
Career
Foxx
On leaving the army, McKenzie became involved in the music scene in Akron and played with cover bands. McKenzie then, by chance, met Dave Jackson in the rubber refinery where they both worked. Together, they founded a local hard rock band called Foxx in late 1985. Foxx released two albums – Foxx and Stick It Out – and toured. Foxx disbanded in 1992, but reunited in December 2012 and still perform on occasion.
Quest
In 1993, McKenzie joined Quest, a progressive rock band based in Cleveland, Ohio. Membership of Quest allowed him to explore his interest as a singer, keyboard player and songwriter. At the end of 1994, Quest released a CD, Opposite sides of the picket fence. In summer, 1994, Quest gave an opening performance for a Yes concert at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Quest's prog rock CD failed and in 1995, the group disbanded.
Peacetree
McKenzie joined Peacetree, a hard rock band, as a bass guitarist. The band was fronted by Elijah Black. Peacetree released three CDs, Insense, Wonderful Day and Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you earned Peacetree a nomination for "Best hard rock band" at the 2000 Cleveland Free Times Music Awards. Peacetree gave opening performances for bands who were touring nationally such as Mötley Crüe, Styx, Cinderella and Neil Young. Peacetree also appeared on The Jenny Jones Show.
Peacetree disbanded in 2002. McKenzie played with the JAK band, a local classic rock band. He also rehearsed with a new band led by Elijah Black. Then, Jani Lane, the original vocalist for the band Warrant, approached McKenzie to join him on a solo tour to promote Lane's CD, Back Down to One. McKenzie worked with Lane from October 2002 to March 2003.
FireHouse
On 23 October 2003, McKenzie joined FireHouse at the recommendation of Billy Morris, the guitarist for Lane, and Tony Avitar, FireHouse's current sound engineer. FireHouse toured the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, India, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Greece and the UK. Allen, along with the rest of the band, contributed to the CDs Monster Ballads Christmas , Hell Bent Forever-A Tribute ToJudas Priest, the DVD, Metal Mania Stripped Across America, and the band's latest full-length CD, Full Circle, a re-recorded "best of" album, released in 2011.
