Allen Singer
San Diego, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR
Allen Singer
Down the Road
by Kate Kowsh
With his latest album, Down the Road, Allen Singer finally, and single-handedly, disproves the old belief that those who can't do teach. As a skilled musician and torch carrier of folk heritage, Singer masters both. A San Diego local, Singer, in addition to keeping the spirit of music alive through his recordings, also serves on the board of the San Diego Folk Heritage, a concert-producing organization. If that weren't enough, he also leads the San Diego Folk Song Society, created in 1957 by local treasure Sam Hinton, a great American folksinger, folklorist, and diatonic harmonica player.
A collection of cover songs and original material, Down the Road includes classics by legends Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. Tucked in between are three of Singer's original songs. Perhaps one of the best ways to describe the validity of this body of work is to say that it'd be difficult for the untrained ear to differentiate which tracks are Singer's originals and which are covers of world renowned classics.
According to his bio, Singer plays guitar and sings folk, blues, country, traditional music, old time tunes, topical, and bluegrass music, and has a knack for picking the best songs to accentuate his strong, dusty voice. In the same way Tom Waits spits out his vocals and lobs them at you like emotion-filled bombs, Singer, too, has harnessed the ability to let his deep, at times raspy, weathered voice land firmly in the hearts of his listeners through their ears.
Devoid of self-conscious hesitation on Singer's cover of Alton and Rabon Delmore's "Deep River Blues," he lets all his vocal imperfections hang out. Like a good faux finish, it adds authenticity and impressive detail to the composition. A cover of Harlan Howard's "Busted" incorporates a little twang with the songs' old time, grassroots foundation. "Stealing," a Singer original, is one of those authentic, "o', my darlin''' kind of tunes that you'd swear you've heard somewhere before. Its tempo reminds me of a galloping horse, setting a real western, chewin' tobaccy mood for its listeners.
A description of the album on Singer's website says "[it] takes you on a journey through American 20th century folk music, country blues, traditional, and early country music. Listen to the songs and the music that set off the 1960s' folk revival." With Down the Road, Singer lights the spark for the modern revival.
- San Diego Troubadour
Discography
2003-IN TRADITION
2005-DOWN THE ROAD www.cdbaby.com/cd/allensinger
YOU CAN HEAR STREAMING TRACKS ON MY WEB PAGE, CD Baby and E-FOLK MUSIC.
ELECTRIC PRESS KIT: AVAILABLE@WWW.SONICBIDS.COM/ALLENSINGER
Photos
Bio
Allen Singer played his first guitar chords during the 1960s folk revival in New York City. He flat and finger picks acoustic guitar and plays harmonica.
Allen Singer 's music and guitar picking is grounded in the songs of Woody Guthrie and his many musical children. American Root's and Blue's music play an important role in Allen's sets and performances.
Allen Singer plays guitar and sings folk, blues, country, traditional music, old time, topical, cowboy/western and bluegrass with a little jazz on the side.
Allen Singer's new CD, "Down the Road," is available at CD Baby and eFolk Music. The new CD"Down the Road," takes you on a journey through American 20th century folk music, country blues, traditional and early country music. Starting with Woody Guthrie and ending with Bob Dylan. Along the way you'll hear the music of Jimmy Rodgers,The Delmore Brothers, Sam NcGee, (Gov)Jimmy Davis, Johnny Cash and Harlan Howard. Listen to the songs and the music that set off the 1960's folk revival.
He leads the San Diego Folk Song Society, created in 1957 by Sam Hinton, a great American folk Singer, diatonic harmonica player and folklorist.
He's also co-vice chair/assistant booker for San Diego Folk Heritage, a concert producing organization in Southern California.
Writer/San Diego Troubadour(newspaper)
CONCERTS/FESTIVALS:
ADAMS AVENUE ROOTS FESTIVAL:
2001/2005/2006/2007/2008
ADAMS AVENUE STREET FAIR:
2001/2005
CHALIS UNITARIAN CHURCH ESCONDIDO:
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
2006/2007/2008
BELLY UP/ "Hearts for Haiti,":
February 15, 2010
FLAGSTAFF FOLK FESTIVAL:
JUNE 27, 2009
SAN DIEGO FOLK HERITAGE CONCERTS/MUSICAL
ODYSSEY SERIES:
JUNE 10,2006, JULY 7, 2007, OCTOBER 13, 2007/MARCH 21, 2009/ July 23, 2009, December 4, 2010
OLD POWAY PARK TRAIN SONG FESTIVAL:
OCTOBER 7,2006, OCTOBER 6, 2007, OCTOBER 4, 2008, October 8, 2009,October 9, 2010
BORDER'S BOOKS
SAM HINTON WING-DING:
JUNE 3,2006
SAM HINTON FOLK FESTIVAL:
JUNE 9, 2007/JUNE 14, 2008/ MAY 9, 2009/June 5, 2010/June 4, 2011
OPENED FOR JUNI FISHER:
MAY 9, 2009, June 12, 2010
"WOODY GUTHRIE'S SONG BOOK"/CLARKE HOUSE CONCERT:
OPENED FOR JOEL RAFAEL:
-JUNE 9, 2007
WEIGHORST WESTERN HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL- "COWBOY/WESTERN MUSIC" :
JUNE 2, 2007/JUNE 8, 2008/JUNE 7, 2009
VAQUERO DAYS(Western Heritage Festival):
October 18, 2008,October 17, 2009, October 16, 2010
OPENED FOR CAROLYN HESTER/SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY:
NOVEMBER 2, 2007
CONCERT-TO OPEN THE SAN DIEGO ACLU'S PREMIERE SHOWING OF "THE POWER OF SONG," A FILM ABOUT PETE SEEGER- KPBS STUDIO"A"/SDSU:
December 10, 2007
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