Nashville, Tennessee
30 Years Old
Singer-Songwriter, Composer, Vocalist

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BIOGRAPHY

Some folks’ paths are determined for them before they are old enough to wonder what their paths should be. Such is the case with Allen Thompson. Thompson has been singing and telling stories for longer than he can remember. Judging by the responses to his albums and live performances, he won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Allen’s songwriting and performing abilities have been recognized and applauded by Relix Magazine, American Songwriter, and even CMT. His last release, 2009’s 26 Years, even made it to number 14 on jambands.com’s radio charts, showing that fans of the genre understand the statements Thompson is trying to make. Allen is pleased with the attention, but he takes it all in stride.
“I’m excited that 26 Years got such a good response from people. When I made the record, I was afraid to put it out. It’s nice to know these guys get what I’m doing. It’s also surprising. I didn’t expect the record to elicit much of a reaction from anyone. I thought it was too personal, too real,” he chuckles.
“Then again, the writers who inspired me made personal music for themselves and their friends with little concern for whether it would coincide with an executive’s idea of public demand. I can’t imagine The Band, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, The Grateful Dead, or Gary Davis sitting around in suits attempting to figure out what combination of music and lyrics would most impress folks from a marketing standpoint,” he adds.
It is precisely that attitude that draws listeners to Allen’s music. Thompson is an artist who treats his audience the way he wants to be treated: Like people, not consumers. Perhaps it’s not the wisest short-term business plan, but Allen Thompson didn’t choose this profession for the money. The first time you hear his sweet, soulful voice sail through one of his songs like the wind whistling through the mountains, you’ll realize he didn’t choose this profession at all. The profession chose him.

-Dr. T. N. Peters

LEVEL

semi-pro

GENRES

Alternative Country, Rock , Bluegrass

Contact

Management: Press Inquiries: Annissa Mason annissa@brookescompany.com
Publishing: Radio Inquiries: Leslie Rouffe leslie@songlinesmusic.com
Label: Roofbeam Records allenthompsonmusic@gmail.com
Booking: allenthompsonmusic@gmail.com
Administrative: Allen Thompson

P.R.O.

ASCAP

INSTRUMENTS

bass / acoustic guitar / electric guitar / vocals

INFLUENCES

Various people I know and people I will never know who have inspired me in one way or another...

I AM INTERESTED IN

in co writing in person
in networking with songwriters
in pitching songs to artist
in pitching songs to tv
in getting a record deal
in getting a publishing deal

I WRITE:

It's my second job

I Also Write:
by myself
with others
for myself
for others

I Prefer To Write:
lyrics
melody
music

experience >

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Relix Magazine JamOff! competition winner Sept./Oct 2008 Worldwide Songwriter's Association July 2008 Artist Spotlight "One of the best new artists to come out of the South in recent times..." - Chuck Leavell

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Robbie Robertson

As a member of The Band, Robbie Robertson changed the course or rock music history, hipping the genre to a more old-timey sound with songs like “The Weight,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” His latest solo album, How To Become Clairvoyant, reflects on his rock and roll past.

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Alison Krauss: The Golden Girl

These days, many Nashville-based artists co-write their own material with big name songwriters so they can share a piece of the royalty pie in times of declining CD sales. But the truth is, a lot of those co-writes can’t match the work of people whose calling in life is to create high-quality songs above anything else.

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Jessica Lea Mayfield: Look At Miss Ohio

“Things are starting to get weird.”

Jessica Lea Mayfield, whose Nonesuch Records debut Tell Me is in stores now, is on the phone from her home in Ohio and we’re having a good laugh over her recent success. It’s beer o’clock on both ends of the phone, the last interview in a long week of talking to complete strangers for the two of us.

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Cadillac Sky

Cadillac Sky should be a lot more tired. It’s early Saturday afternoon at MerleFest and the band–Bryan Simpson, Matt Menefree, Andrew Moritz, Ross Holmes and newest addition David Mayfield–has already logged two performances on the day....