Devon Allman

Devon Allman (born August 10, 1972), son of musician Gregg Allman and Shelley Kay Jefts, is a vocalist, guitarist, keyboard player and songwriter.

He is the founder and bandleader of Honeytribe, (also known as Devon Allman's Honeytribe). In addition to creating two albums and leading multiple tours across North America and Europe with Honeytribe, Devon has contributed to several other musical recordings, including Vargas Blues Band and the A Song for My Father compilation album. Devon has appeared occasionally as a guest musician for Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band. His other musical projects include the blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood and his first solo album "Turquoise" that was released in February 2013. After leaving Royal Southern Brotherhood the next year, he released "Ragged & Dirty" with The Devon Allman Band.

Early years

Devon is the son of Gregg Allman (of The Allman Brothers Band) and Shelley Kay Jefts. His parents divorced when he was an infant, and he grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, as well as Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, raised by his mother in a typical suburban American household.^[1]

Devon began playing music as a teen, but was not influenced by his father.^[1] He did not meet his father until he was in his teens, but they then bonded instantly.^[2] For several years in the 1990s he performed around the growing St. Louis blues and rock music scene, while also managing a suburban Guitar Center store where he met his future Royal Southern Brotherhood bandmate, Mike Zito.^[3]

In his twenties, Allman tried various musical styles and sounds to distance himself from his father's sound and avoid obvious comparisons, though his father did not meddle in Devon's career. In his thirties, Allman embraced the blues and rock style of music that was in his blood, realizing that it was inherited naturally.^[2]

Influences

His family's prestigious musical history actually had little effect on him. He initially found his own way at age five while listening to The Beatles and Kiss, and from there started to learn guitar. Later in life, after meeting his father and getting to see what was involved in a musical career, he became inspired to improve his craft.

Devon grew up on classic, blues-inspired rock music, and has specifically mentioned Santana, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and The Allman Brothers Band.^[2]

When asked if there was one record that he could cite as the definitive recording that has influenced and inspired him, Devon responded with Layla, by Derek and The Dominos. He explained, "Although it's not straight blues, it's obviously dripping with soulful blues guitar. Layla has always appealed to me because you can really really ‘feel’ what Clapton was going through. That man was straight up in love. It brought out a burning passion in his throat and fingers that is undeniable, and it obviously soaked into the other players on the record. My uncle Duane just sounds like a bird on it as well! It has so much raw energy and passion that it sounds ultra fresh every time I put it on. Front to back, one of the few records that can bring me to tears if I let it."^[2]

Musical career

The Dark Horses

In the early 1990's Devon Allman headed up a local band in St. Louis, MO called The Dark Horses.^[4]

Honeytribe

Honeytribe was formed by Devon Allman in 1999. In 2001, the band broke up so Allman could spend time with his newly born son. They re-formed in 2005 with their original lineup, and have since toured in the United States, Europe, and Canada, and have recorded two albums. They recorded Torch in 2006 and hit the road, playing up to 300 shows a year in 42 states and ten countries. Allman eventually grew restless with the original Honeytribe sound and pared the band down to a power trio in 2008 with bassist George Potsos and new drummer Gabriel Strange. This incarnation of Devon Allman's Honeytribe issued Space Age Blues in the fall of 2010.

Royal Southern Brotherhood

In October 2011, Allman began working on a project titled the Royal Southern Brotherhood. The blues-rock supergroup includes Cyril Neville, Mike Zito.,^[5] Grammy-award winning drummer Yonrico Scott and bassist Charlie Wooton. Allman was skeptical of joining the group at first, telling his manager "Dude are you crazy? Thats like putting five quarterbacks in a room and saying 'go play football'. What the Hell are you talking about?"^[6] However he soon changed his mind and the group recorded their first album in December 2011, over five days at Dockside Studio, a 12-acre estate on the banks of Vermilion Bayou, in Maurice, Louisiana.^[7] The group made its stage debut in September 2011 at the Rock ’n’ Bowl in New Orleans.^[3][7] As of September, 2012 they have toured extensively in the U.S. and fourteen foreign countries.^[6]

Solo

In September 2012, Allman finished recording sessions for his first solo album, titled "Turquoise", which features Myles Weeks on bass and Yonrico Scott on drums. The sessions were recorded at Ardent Studios, in Memphis, Tennessee, engineered by Pete Matthews and produced by Jim Gaines, and includes guest musicians Luther Dickinson, Samantha Fish, Rick Steff and Ron Holloway. A solo tour began in November 2012, and the touring band include Pedro Arevalo on bass, Bobby Schneck Jr. on second guitar, and Anthony Nanney on drums. The album was released on 12 February 2013, and the track listing is: When I Left Home; Don't Set Me Free; Time Machine; Stop Draggin My Heart Around (duet with Samantha Fish^[8]); There's No Time; Strategy; Homesick; Into the Darkness; Key Lime Pie; Yadira's Lullaby; Turn Off the World.^[9][10][11]

Other contributions

In 2005, Allman appeared on Love, Union, Peace with bluesman Javier Vargas' Vargas Blues Band (along with Jack Bruce, Reese Wynans, and others), and in 2008 on the Flamenco Blues Experience recording by the same outfit. In 2007 Devon guested on Paris Luna's City Lights album. He has also made appearances at various festivals and on MTV Europe.

Discography

Solo

• Turquoise (2013)
• Ragged & Dirty (2014)
• Ride Or Die (2016)

Ocean Six

• Ocean Six – Somewhere Between Day and Night (2003): Guitar and vocals^[12]

Honeytribe

• Torch (2006)
• Space Age Blues (2010)

Royal Southern Brotherhood

• Royal Southern Brotherhood (2012)

Other contributions

• Vargas Blues Band – Love, Union, Peace (2005): Vocals on "Dance Away The Blues", "How Verso Are You?", and "Magic of the Gods"^[13][14]
• Vargas Blues Band – Lost & Found (2007): Vocals on "One Way Out", "Statesboro Blues" and "Layla"^[15]
• Various artists – A Song for My Father (2007): "Midnight Rider"
• Vargas Blues Band – Flamenco Blues Experience (2008): Vocals on "Blues In My Soul"^[16][17]
• Vargas Blues Band – Comes Alive With Friends (2009): Guitar and vocals on "One Way Out", "How Verso Are You?", and "Down by the River"; vocals on "Blues In My Soul"^[18]
• Dan Bruder Band – Act of Kindness (2010)
• Jeremiah Johnson – Production work on Grind (2015)^[19]

Musical equipment

Allman's primary guitar is a Gibson Les Paul, which he calls "Number One". It is an exact, custom-shop replication of a '59.^[20] It was signed by Les Paul when they played together at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City in 2007.^[21]

Allman currently uses Fuchs Overdrive Supreme amplifiers.^[22]

Miscellaneous projects

Allman appeared in the rock comedy series called Who the Hell is Dan Bruder which launched online June 2010. It is the story of a slightly delusional, middle-aged wannabe rocker who can not let go of the dream of stardom.

In 2011, Allman began marketing his "Devon Allman's Chipotle Blues" branded hot sauce via Born to Hula.^[20][23]

References

External links

• Devon Allman Band
• Devon Allman's Honeytribe
• Devon Allman biography on AllMusic.com
• Royal Southern Brotherhood