CHARLIE ALLEN

Charlie Allen
BIO

Bristol, Tennessee, is a town best known today for its motor speedway. But, historically, its real claim to fame is as the birthplace of modern country music for it was there that Ralph Peer first recorded The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers - creating what is today known as "the big-bang" of country music.

Charlie Allen was born in Bristol, Tennessee, into a family steeped in country music. Allen's mother, Louise Bouton, was a regular on WCYB radio's "Fun and Farm Time," and she is a member of the Bristol Hall of Fame. His father, Charles D. Bouton, was an artist manager.

Singing and performing was the family business, and Allen and his brothers, William and Robert, learned from the best. Just as some mothers give their children toys, Allen's mom gave him a broom and taught him to pretend that it was a microphone. Eventually, he learned to play the guitar, piano, steel guitar and drums. When most of his friends were getting on a school bus, Allen was getting on a tour bus.

Allen's uncle, Jim Harless, was also in the music business in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was there at age seven with his family that Allen began honing his skills as a singer and performer at the legendary Panther Hall. The stage was his classroom, and his teachers were the pillars of country music: Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Lee Lewis. These are just a few of the touring performers that Allen fronted for and worked with. During this time Allen signed his first recording contract with Decca Records.

By age fifteen, Allen was fronting his own group, The Bouton Brothers. They appeared on various television shows in Bristol and Kingsport, opening for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Pride and others. He also hosted his own television show sponsored by Martha White.

Later on Allen was signed to Parc Records, an independent label and publishing company with offices in Orlando, Florida, and Nashville. Parc and their affiliate Parc Studios boasted a stellar list of clients such as The Backstreet Boys, 'N Snyc, Britney Spears, and Mariah Carey among others.

Commuting between Nashville and Orlando, Allen wrote and recorded many songs including "Better Said Than Done" co-written with Earl Thomas Conley. That song garnered Allen his first critical acclaim from Music Row's toughest critic Robert K. Oermann who has been an ardent supporter ever since. He also made fans of the nationally syndicated radio show hosts John Boy and Billy who said, "We believe that Charlie is destined for stardom. He has a heart as big as Tennessee and a voice to match it."

Presently, Allen is signed to indy label River Run Records and has recently completed the album "That Was Then, This Is Now." His current single "See If I Care" is currently climbing the charts.

In a recent interview, Allen summed his career up: "When you write a song, especially when you have a 'hook' that speaks to people's hearts, well, that's the thing that keeps you going."

It is this real and genuine down-to-earth attitude coupled with a phenomenal talent that will keep Charlie Allen's voice on the radio for a long time to come.

The year 2009 was a banner year for Charlie Allen. The Manchester, Tennessee, native has seen his music gain acceptance around the world, and his media visibility has never been higher. In January 2009, he made a promotional appearance at MIDEM in Cannes, France, and performed an invitation-only showcase event at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London, England. He also celebrated his second #1 single in Europe. Mid-year he was a featured guest on a special Memorial Day edition of the FOX News show "Geraldo at Large" and prepared for his second appearance at the mega-festival "Bonnaroo"in June.

Allen's new single "Proof" is from his CD "That Was Then, This Is Now" about which Music Row scribe Robert K. Oermann recently stated, "I have made no secret of my respect for this artist. He's proudly country and this groove-saturated drinking song is one more feather in his cap."