Allison Steel

BY DAVID COYAN
Times-Journal Writer, Thursday, November 18, 2010

Budding country music artist Allison (Julie) Steel found her way back
to her sleepy hometown of Wellston this past weekend, though it
wasn't for a performance in front of a local crowd at a small
establishment. Instead, she was in town with her husband, back to
her roots, collecting shoes for the homeless as part of a charity effort
she makes in her new home of Nashville. The issue strikes relatively
close to home for Steel, who had someone close to her that has dealt
with being homeless for several years. When someone close to you
goes through what they have with being homeless, it has a big impact
on your life. I once found someone close to me sleeping on the steps
of a church, with snow on the ground. He had socks on, but no shoes,
because someone had stolen them, Steel told The Jackson County
Times-Journal. My life changed that day. Steel went on to note that she felt that there was a huge need for shoes among the homeless in Nashville. Each year, 65 people in Nashville freeze to death. There are people after all shapes and sizes of shoes at the shelter I work at in Nashville, she explained. So began the adventure, five years ago, when Steel set out to make her contribution in helping the needy. Steel moved to Nashville about seven-and-a-half years ago, by her recollection. Perhaps the most surprising thing about her move, though, wasn't that she moved there, but instead, why she moved there. Allison Steel, or Julie, as her friends from high school know her, moved to Nashville, not as a musician, but instead as a worship minister. It just felt like one of those things where I needed to go, now, Steel said. She recalled feeling like if she didn't go, she might regret it. So she and her husband Todd moved to Nashville with their little family, a son and a daughter. Allison did perform, though her music was all Christian, she performed with Christian artists, and she had basically no thought of performing country. Then, Trey Grey, a producer and former band member of the famous country music duo Brooks and Dunn, came into her life. He wanted to meet, and we did and started working on a project. I had performed Christian music for so long, I thought it would be cool to mix it up and play some country, Steel recalled. Now, as Steel, Grey, and others work to produce her album, which is set for an early 2011 release, she continues helping with the shelters, as it is what is in her philanthropic nature. In the mean time, her single, Super Man sits high on the www.Reverbnation.com (www.reverbnation.com/allisonsteel) pop charts, at number four. The album also hit the global hot chart number 7. Steel attributes her successes in both her philanthropy work and as a musician to her home here in Jackson County. The support has been overwhelming at times, and is very refreshing. I have people hitting me up on Facebook (linked from her website at http://www.allisonsteel.com/) all the time, asking how they can help with the shoe drives, and also supporting my music, Steel said. Steel's husband, perhaps, summed up their perspective and results best, however. A lot of the time, people lose sight of what is important. We are here because we want to give back, Todd said. This journey, or at least this most recent trip back home, has a happily ever after, as Allison says on her way back home, My car is absolutely full! I have not counted how many pairs of shoes I received but I can tell you there are at least 500 pair. My entire trunk is full and my back seat is full, floor to back window. dcoyan@timesjournal.com

***Writer's note: Allison has asked that anyone interested in helping or learning more about her and her efforts to look her up online at www.allisonsteel.com, and also wanted to thank all those who contributed this weekend. - David Coyan, The Times Journal Herald