Biography
Born as the oldest child of esteemed Texas songwriter Terry Allen, Bukka Allen first took up the piano during childhood. At seventeen he cut an album of his own material under the production of Lloyd Maines, the acclaimed Texas producer and pedal steel player who was a friend of his parents. Although the recording never reached commercial release, it secured Allen a full scholarship to Boston’s Berklee School of Music. After finishing his studies there in 1991, he settled in Austin and worked with artists such as Will Sexton, Kris McKay, Alejandro Escovedo, and Beaver Nelson.
He also appeared in a handful of concerts alongside Joe Ely during the period when Ian Moore served as Ely’s lead guitarist. When Moore departed to begin a solo career, Allen joined him for several albums and nationwide tours. In the late ’90s Allen wrote and independently issued Sweet Valentine, a collection of his compositions that highlighted his haunting vocals and commanding piano work. For the project he reassembled former Berklee bandmates and tracked the album in five days at My Generation Studios in Boston, with guest appearances from Austin associates including Will Sexton and fiddler Richard Bowden.
He also appeared in a handful of concerts alongside Joe Ely during the period when Ian Moore served as Ely’s lead guitarist. When Moore departed to begin a solo career, Allen joined him for several albums and nationwide tours. In the late ’90s Allen wrote and independently issued Sweet Valentine, a collection of his compositions that highlighted his haunting vocals and commanding piano work. For the project he reassembled former Berklee bandmates and tracked the album in five days at My Generation Studios in Boston, with guest appearances from Austin associates including Will Sexton and fiddler Richard Bowden.
Albums