Jimmie Allen
Jimmie Allen
August 26, 2022
Signed to BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records, multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter Jimmie Allen has been blazing trails since the beginning of his breakout career. He made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits off his 2018 debut album Mercury Lane (which The New York Times dubbed as one of 2018’s strongest) – the first being his debut single “Best Shot,” which claimed the No. 1 spot on Country radio for three weeks, and second being “Make Me Want To.” In July 2020, Allen released his star-studded collaboration project Bettie James that has since garnered 171+ million streams and a slew of critical acclaim for the music, the historic nature of various collaborations, and its subsequent place in country music history. Named for his late grandmother, Bettie Snead, and late father, James Allen, Bettie James has been hailed as an “announcement of [Allen’s] arrival” and a “huge step for country” (NPR), and “a powerful statement from a developing voice” (Billboard). On June 25, 2021, Allen released the project’s follow up album Bettie James Gold Edition. Doubling down on Allen’s expansive love for music across genres, the album “broadens country’s borders” (Billboard) and includes nine brand new songs featuring Babyface, BRELAND, Keith Urban, LANCO, Lathan Warlick, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, LOCASH, Monica, Neon Union, Pitbull, teamwork. and Vikina in addition to the previous collaborations on Bettie James with Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw. Allen won the both the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award and CMA New Artist of the Year award in April and November 2021, respectively. Hailed by GRAMMY.com as one of “5 Black Artists Rewriting Country Music,” he has amassed more than 850 million on-demand streams and performed on The Kennedy Center Honors, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, TODAY, American Idol, Tamron Hall Show, The Steve Harvey Show, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, and more. He is a member of the 2021 Artists Committee for the 44th Kennedy Center Honors. His current single “Freedom Was A Highway” with superstar Brad Paisley is climbing through the Top 20 on Country radio as he is out on the road on Paisley’s headline Tour 2021 as special guest this summer. Allen’s debut picture book, My Voice Is a Trumpet – a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in, at any age – was published on July 13, 2021 with Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. Allen also serves as Executive Music Producer for Netflix’s series Titletown High, which premiered globally on August 27. His song “Big In A Small Town” is the theme song for the series, which follows a Georgia town where football rules and winning is paramount, a champion high school team tackles rivalries, romance and real life as they work toward the ultimate goal: a state title. He most recently competed as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars’ landmark 30th season on ABC.
Leo Brooks’ dad handed him an acoustic guitar and introduced him to the music of George Jones and Hank Williams at the age of four. Growing up in Miami, Leo spoke English and Spanish fluently and developed his songwriting chops at a young age while learning to play the bass guitar. His first audition was for the legendary Lauryn Hill right out of high school and eventually became her musical director. Leo then went on to become a Grammy Award-Winning collaborator for artists including: Pitbull, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green, and John Legend.
Andrew Millsaps was born in Surry County, NC and started playing guitar and writing music at the age of thirteen. Andrew officially began his music career playing for his friends and family around kitchen tables and weekend bonfires. Shortly after his high school graduation, he began performing at local venues while attending and then graduating from NC State University. Andrew was a semi-finalist in the “Music City Song Star Competition” and earned first place in The Merlefest “Chris Austin Songwriting Contest”.
Jimmie Allen introduced Leo and Andrew to each other in Nashville after seeing each of them perform as solo artists. It was Jimmie’s suggestion that they join forces and become the first black & white duo in country music. They took Jimmie up on that idea as well as his offer to manage them with his business partner, Aaron Benward at JAB Entertainment.
Neon Union is the first of its kind in country music. 808 kick drums married to a traditional country lyric and anthemic pop melodies show exactly what makes these guys different. Andrew says, “when we met we were brothers instantly.” Leo responds, “Ya I was like ‘Man this gonna be damn good.’ We want our music to bring people together. Neon Union is for everybody. It’s different, and it’s a first.”
So now that begs the question “Is Neon Union the best?” We’ll let you be the judge.