Bill "Hoss" Allen, born William Trousdale Allen III on December 3, 1922, in Gallatin, Tennessee, was a pioneering American radio disc jockey known for his influential role in promoting rhythm and blues and black gospel music. Raised by an African-American domestic who worked for his grandparents, Allen developed an early love for gospel music and identified closely with the African-American community, an unusual orientation in the segregated South.

Allen's career in radio began after World War II, where he served as a jazz musician in USO shows. He graduated with an English degree from Vanderbilt University and initially worked at Gallatin station WHIN before moving to WLAC in Nashville. There, he became part of the famed "50,000 Watt Quartet" alongside Gene Nobles, "John R." Richbourg, and Herman Grizzard. Allen was known for his dynamic radio presence, playing artists like Ray Charles and Little Richard, and using "jive talk" commercials to engage listeners.

In the 1960s, Allen worked as a field representative for Chess Records and later returned to WLAC, where he continued to champion black gospel music through his program "Early Morning Gospel Time With the Hossman." This show provided a significant platform for gospel music, reaching a wide audience across the country. Allen's contributions to the music industry extended beyond radio; he owned Hermitage Records and was involved in artist management and production, helping to launch the careers of notable musicians such as James Brown and Otis Redding.

Allen's impact on music extended to television with his creation of The !!!! Beat, a groundbreaking soul music show broadcast in color from Dallas in 1966. Throughout his nearly 50-year career, Allen was a key figure in bridging racial divides through music, demonstrating that music transcends color barriers. He retired in 1993 and passed away on February 25, 1997, in Nashville, Tennessee.