Dexter Allen

Dexter Allen (born July 10, 1970) is an American blues musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Formerly the lead guitarist for the Airtight Band and blues musician Bobby Rush, Allen received a Jackson Music Award in 2008 for Male Vocalist of the Year. That same year, he debuted his first album titled Bluezin My Way. His work on the album resulted in another Jackson Music Award in 2009 for Entertainer of the Year. His accomplishments included being signed to Bobby Rush’s record label, Deep Rush Records, and appearing as a guitarist in the 2014 James Brown biopic, Get On Up. In 2015, Allen released an album titled Trilogy of My Bluez.

Early life Allen was born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, to Willie Lee Allen (father) and Ruthie Mae Allen (mother) on July 10, 1970. Allen has three sisters, Olivia Ann Allen, Phalethia Lundy and Sara Allen, and one brother, Corey Allen. He was brought up on a farm, His mother worked for Farm Bureau Insurance and retired after 30 years of employment.

His father was also the member of the gospel group The Christian Travelers, He sang and played with the Airtight Band in addition to sharing his talent at local churches. This exposure led to him becoming the lead guitarist for blues musician Bobby Rush.

While in Rush's band, Allen was exposed to what blues has to offer worldwide. The experience gave him a chance to travel and perform internationally for hundreds of thousands of blues fans, and to learn what it took to succeed in the blues music industry. In September 2014, Allen was in a music video for his song from the album Bluez of my Soul, "Coming Home to Mississippi."

Some of Allen's performances throughout North America were at the following: Chicago Blues Fest, Chicago, Illinois King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, Arkansas Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Davenport, Iowa South Side Shuffle, Missasaugua, Canada Beauport Blues Fest, Quebec, Canada Ameristar Casino, Vicksburg, Mississippi Hard Rock Cafe, Memphis, Tennessee Ground Zero Blues Club, Memphis, Tennessee

Five of Allen's songs were listed on the Roots Music Report's Weekly Top 50 Mississippi Song Chart for the week of July 20, 2014.

Allen's 2018 live album, Dexter Allen: Live From Ground Zero Blues Club, was filmed in HD video - including club owner Morgan Freeman introducing him to kick off the show. UK's Blues & Rhythm Magazine 's review described Allen as "a supremely gifted guitarist and singer" and wrote that "incredible notes seem to fly effortlessly from his guitar."

His upcoming tour schedule includes the sold-out Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.

Equipment Allen performs on a Fender Stratocaster guitar.

Philanthropy After being inducted into the Mississippi Artist Roster, Allen now provides workshops through the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in area schools and works with children with autism in summer programs in order to continue promoting heritage blues music.

Honors and awards In 2008, he received the Vocalist of the Year award from the Jackson Music Awards Association.