Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Allen.
Hi Jerry, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a singer-songwriter from Indianapolis Indiana now living just outside of Nashville Tennessee. I’ve been writing songs for about 25 years. I’ve been coming to Nashville for several years and I have always wanted to live there. I can remember coming to Nashville and staying the weekend and feeling literally depressed when it was time to leave. After the death of my daughter in 2018 I soon found myself divorced and on my own for the first time in over 30 years. Nashville became my Oasis if you will.
After meeting my now fiance Stephanie the desire to move to Tennessee was undeniable. I still found myself dragging my feet a bit, to say the least, due to the fact I had a life/business and family in Indiana. But with a lot of prayers and the love and support from Stephanie and my family and friends, we finally did it. Nashville is heaven on Earth to a musician/songwriter. I’ve met so many wonderful people in Nashville. The songwriting Community is so supportive and welcoming it’s almost unreal.
Sure there’s some rival stuff and competitiveness but overall it’s a family. I don’t know where I would be right now if I didn’t have this community in my life. Being able to have an outlet to do what I do is one thing but to be able to do it where so much great talent lives and breathes is a blessing from God.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say the main challenge has been leaving my family behind. And watching my fiance do the same. Even though it’s only 4 1/2 hours away I’m still no longer readily available to them. That’s hard! I’ve always been the kind of man who can thrive in chaos so starting my life over doesn’t scare me all that much but it has definitely been a challenge. Being a songwriter is a long-game scenario. Some of the struggles I’ve encountered are really just trying to navigate through it all.
Figuring out who to talk to and what questions to ask when you find key people that can help you. That’s why it’s important to listen to people that have made it and actually have faith in their advice. Also one of the main struggles was finding my rhythm which I’m sure all songwriters can relate to. 20 years ago I played anywhere I could and I was pretty polished. When my daughter was injured at the age of 7 years old I literally quit music. I would occasionally sing in front of people at a bonfire at my home or just in the kitchen. I kind of lost my chops, to say the least. So when I came to Nashville I thought I would start off where I left off LOL not the case. I remember one of the first places I started to play at was Whiskey Bent On Broadway. It was the only singer-songwriter showcase on Broadway at the time and I think it still is.
Janet and Charles Cox ran the Showcase there. They were gracious enough to let me up. I literally would forget my lyrics which I had never done before and I’d find myself shaking before I got up to play. At times my mind would just go completely blank mid-song. But with encouragement from my now fiance and Janet and Charles Cox, I slowly got my rhythm back and slowly found my place. I have a special place in my heart for Janet and Charles Cox and Whiskey Bent. I appreciate that place so much that I asked Stephanie to marry me there mid-song.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Well, I grew up very poor and in a very bad neighborhood so I don’t have many fond memories as a child other than being turned on to my mom and dad’s record collection. Being turned on to Elvis Presley Hank Williams Jim Croce and the Beatles really stands out to me as really happy times.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Jwallen615
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JerryAllen317?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: Jerry Wayne Allen Music @Mewayne317
