Jon Allen (musician)

Jonathon "Jon" Allen is an English singer-songwriter born in Winchester, currently living in London. His debut album Dead Man's Suit was released in 2009. With his fourth studio album 'Blue Flame', he has amassed five million plays on Spotify.

Jon Allen
Jon Allen live in concert
Jon Allen live in concert
Background information
OriginWinchester, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • harmonica
  • piano
  • drums
  • bass
Years active2008–present
Labels
  • Monologue
  • Ok! Good
  • Absolute
  • V2
Websitejonallenmusic.com

Early life

Jon Allen was born in 1977 in Winchester[1] where he grew up, while he was attending Sands School in South Devon. It was there that he began playing the drums and guitar. When he was 15, he started recording songs on a cassette-based four-track machine. On leaving school Allen attended college completing a BTEC in performing arts. Whilst performing in various local bands he auditioned and was accepted at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). This is where he met Paul McCartney, who encouraged him to continue as a songwriter.[2]

Career

Following his graduating from LIPA, Allen moved to London, after one of his demos received a five-star review in the magazine Making Music. Management offers in London soon followed. There, a gig circuit was performed where Allen met members of his future band including Hammond organ player Rich Milner, who Allen spotted at a gig in South London. Milner introduced Allen to Tristan Longworth who went on to produce and record his debut album, Dead Man's Suit.

In a 2018 interview, Jon Allen revealed that his main source of inspiration in his songwriting is Bob Dylan, while his musical style (particularly in the Blue Flame) have been influenced by the compositions of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Bill Withers.[3]

Allen has toured with Dionne Warwick, Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler, KT Tunstall, Seal, Graham Parker and Damien Rice among others.

Debut album

The song "Going Home" featured on the worldwide Land Rover TV commercial in 2008 bringing him wider recognition.[1] In 2009, Allen signed with Absolute Distribution and released his debut album Dead Man's Suit. Shortly after this Allen signed a publishing deal with Wardlaw Music.

Side projects

As a founder member of northern soul production team, The Third Degree, he co-produced and sung one of the most widely recognised cover versions of the Duffy song Mercy.[4]

TV appearances and radio broadcasts

TV and film syncs

Spotify
  • In 2018 'Keep On Walking' was added to Spotify's 'A Perfect Day' playlist.

Discography

Studio albums
YearAlbumUK NLDUK Independent Albums ChartUK Independent Album Breakers UK Downloads
2009Dead Man's Suit139[6] 28[7]–16 –
2011Sweet Defeat196[8] 55[9]278 –
2014Deep River126[10] 88[11]162 –
2018 Blue Flame – 161[12] 25 5 87
2021 ...meanwhile – – 50 8 –

Singles
Year Title UK NLD NLD (iTunes) GRE (iTunes) TUR (iTunes) DIM (iTunes)
2008 "Going Home"
2009 "In Your Light" 119[13] 76 91[14]
2009 "Young Man Blues / Dead Man's Suit
2009 "Down by the River"
2011 "Sweet Defeat" 89[15]
2011 "Joanna" 67[16]
2012 "No One Gets Out of Here Alive" 97[17]
2014 "Night & Day"
2020 "Can't Hold Back the Sun" 16[18]
2020 "Keep On Walking" 80[19]
2020 "How Long" 60[20]
2022 "Can't Stop Now" 98[21]

    References
    1. Bush, John. "Jon Allen – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
    2. "Business Consultancy". Jon Allen. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
    3. Leah (11 July 2018). "An Interview With the UK Singer-Songwriter, JON ALLEN!". Music.Allaccess.com. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
    4. "??". Entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2014. (subscription required)
    5. "BBC Two – Later... with Jools Holland". Bbc.co.uk. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
    6. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – Update 2009". Zobbel. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
    7. Hung, Steffen. "Jon Allen - Dead Man's Suit". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
    8. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – Update 4.06.2011". Zobbel. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
    9. Hung, Steffen. "Jon Allen - Sweet Defeat". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
    10. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – Update 19.07.2014". Zobbel. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
    11. Hung, Steffen. "Jon Allen - Deep River". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
    12. Hung, Steffen. "Jon Allen - Blue Flame". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
    13. "In Your Light (song by Jon Allen) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    14. "In Your Light". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    15. "Sweet Defeat". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    16. "Joanna". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    17. "No One Gets Out of Here Alive". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    18. "Can't Hold Back the Sun". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
    19. "Keep On Walking". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    20. "How Long". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 June 2022.
    21. "Can't Stop Now". www.top-charts.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 June 2022.
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