One of the most active soul-blues artists since the early 2000s, Vick Allen, dubbed "the velvet voice of soul," is also a songwriter, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, he released his first album at the age of 15 and after high school sang with the Canton Spirituals. He made his proper debut in 2002 with Let's Dance, and added to his discography every two to three years through 2012, the year he issued Soul Music. Each release consisted of contemporary material rooted in traditional R&B with echoes of R&B greats such as Ronald Isley, Al Green, and Tyrone Davis. As a collaborator, Allen has been sought by Willie Clayton, Denise LaSalle, and Shirley Brown, among many others. ~ Andy Kellman