A TOUCH of southern California will hit the area when Allensworth perform at Jamberoo Pub next Wednesday.
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Singer-songwriter Jamie Ray Allensworth has become recognised for his diverse sound heavily rooted in his admiration of soul and blues artists.
As a solo artist and as the frontman of the group Natural Afrodisiac, aka Nafro, he received several awards at the annual Orange County Music Awards Show.
He has opened for funk pioneers James Brown, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, Maceo Parker and George Clinton.
He has also shared the stage with greats such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, Alice Russell, Little Dragon, and Allen Stone; hip-hop acts Floetry, Medusa, Ozomatli, and Everlast; as well as reggae greats Steel Pulse, Yellowman, and Eek a Mouse.
Allensworth grew up in Garden Grove, California, while spending much of his childhood with his grandmother in Potrero Hill, San Francisco.
It was there on the corner of Missouri and 20th that he first found his love for singing.
Acapella groups would gather at the top of the hill and belt out songs.
His mother was a seasoned soprano singer in her Samoan church choir, and his stepfather played guitar and performed as a fire dancer.
When he turned five his father introduced him to his first drum set. From then on he became deeply influenced by his family's appreciation of music and began to fall in love with a variety of musical styles and sounds.
In late 2007, Allensworth found himself in the studio preparing for his first solo album.
He gathered a few of his Nafro bandmates, along with other musicians he had met throughout the years and created the solo project Allensworth.
Allensworth's band members have been performing and recording together for more than a decade.
Known to captivate and move any audience, this band thrives on showmanship through infectious rhythms, clever word play and soulful grooves.
With percussionist Anthony Gonzales, he is promoting their second album, Against the Grain.
The Allensworth project is a mix of classic soul laced with blues, rock and reggae.
Allensworth will be joined by Guy Anderton (drums) and Tracy Stephens (bass).