About Allan

My musical adventure began in Brooklyn NY, when at the age of eight I started singing along to Sam Cooke on my dad’s car radio. The tune was his smash hit of the time ‘You Send Me’.

The journey continued when at age twelve I joined an a capella vocal group called The Paramounts, in Sheepshead Bay.

At age 18, I signed my first recording contract with famous, eccentric south Texas producer Huey P. Meaux (The Crazy Cajun) and released my first single on Scepter Records.

At age 19, I became a songwriter and played the coffee house circuit in Greenwich Village backing myself on acoustic guitar.

Sire Records released my first album of original songs A Picture produced by Richard Gottehrer. To support the album, I toured the US opening for acts such as Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Weather Report, Richie Havens, and elder blues men Bukka White and Arthur Crudup.

I was invited to improvise vocals on the Cannonball Adderley Quintet song ‘Behold’ under the nom de plume Arthur Charma, which appeared on the groups ‘Soul of the Bible’ concept album, featuring Cannonball and Nat Adderley, and George Duke.

I lived in Malibu, California and was staff songwriter for ABC Music. I started teaching guitar as well.

Seeking fresh inspiration, I moved to Kauai, Hawaii and never looked back.

I released my second album The Island on my newly created Black Bamboo Recordings label. The CD was produced and mixed by Stephen Barncard (Grateful Dead-Crosby & Nash) and featured Russell Ferrante of The Yellowjackets and Michael Ruff on piano and keyboards, and my life-long sidekick in music, Bryan Kessler on Guitar.

I released third album Coconut Culture which was produced, recorded and mixed by another industry heavy, the much respected Mike Shipley. The record featured a duet with Graham Nash of Crosby Stills & Nash on the song ‘The Navigator’. I also used several alternate guitar tunings that were gifts from David Crosby.

I moonlighted as a DJ at KKCR Kauai Community Radio. My show, ‘The Show with No Name’, enabled me to discover and spin many artists and forms of music from around the globe. On one of my shows I had the great pleasure of singing a live duet with Graham Nash on my song ‘The Navigator’, as part of a fundraiser for the station.

I was assistant engineer on Donald Fagen’s (Steely Dan) third solo CD ‘Morph The Cat’. I also had the great fortune to play rhythm guitar and sing backing vocals for both Fagen and Todd Rundgren in a benefit concert in March.

I released my fourth album Making Up For Lost Time. Once again joined by Graham Nash on backing vocals, it featured James Taylor’s bassist Jimmy Johnson, and Tris Imboden of Chicago on drums. The self-produced record also features Kauai musicians Ken Emerson on slide guitar and lap-steel, and Michael Ruff on keyboards and backing vocals.

Stephen Barncard released ‘Brooklyn Boy In Paradise’, The Unreleased Collection, 14 songs from 1980–1994.

I released my fifth studio album Deep Water. Produced and recorded by me and mixed by 2012 Grammy award winner Mike Shipley. The CD features David Crosby, Graham Nash, and members of the Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Neil Young, CSN, Van Morrison and Yellowjackets bands. ‘Deep Water’ was nominated for Rock Album of the Year in the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards.

Black Bamboo Recordings released my sixth studio album Two Sides To Every Story. Blending elements of rock, blues, jazz, singer/songwriter and soulful vocals, the album contains 8 songs with voice and 7 instrumentals. Ranging from a solo acoustic guitar slack-key instrumental to full-blown ensemble tracks featuring Keith Carlock of Steely Dan (drums) Jimmy Johnson (bass) of the Steve Gadd and James Taylor bands. Plus Grammy award winning jazz men Russell Ferrante (Piano) and Will Kennedy (drums) of the Yellowjackets. Check out the in-depth interview I did with Thomas Splett of West Coast Soul for the release.

I released my seventh studio album The Journey. Nine of the songs were written with co-writers Bryan Kessler, Michael Ruff, Ed Haaker, and Andy Salvanos. Three of the songs were dug out of my unreleased gems archive. Featuring musicians including Steely Dan and Sting drummer Keith Carlock, James Taylor and Elton John bassist Jimmy Johnson, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder session guitarist Dean Parks, Joni Mitchell and Miles Davis guitar sideman Michael Landau, Yellowjackets composer and pianist Russell Ferrante, David Crosby pianist and producer James Raymond, plus Michael Ruff on keys, Bryan Kessler on guitar, Olivia Ruff singing backup vocals, and several new surprise guests.

Aloha friends and fans of AT music. I’m super excited to announce the release of the first single from my upcoming 8th album ‘Mojo’ co-written with my longtime friend and guitarist Bryan Kessler. It is available on all streaming and download platforms. Purchase and listen now.Featuring Allan Thomas on vocals, Bryan Kessler on guitar, Michael Ruff on keyboards, James Taylor and Elton John bassist Jimmy Johnson, Steely Dan drummer Keith Carlock, and Amanda Frazier singing backup vocals.