Gene Allison
Gene Allison was an influential R&B singer known for pioneering the Nashville R&B sound in the 1950s. His full name was Versie Eugene Allison, born on August 29, 1934, in Pegram, Tennessee.
Allison moved to Nashville at age 7 with his family and grew up singing in church choirs alongside his brother Levert. As a teenager, he performed with gospel groups like the Fairfield Four—filling in for lead singer Sam McCrary—and the Skylarks.
Producer Ted Jarrett signed him to Calvert Records for secular music, then secured a Vee-Jay deal with Larry Birdsong. His 1957 debut "You Can Make It If You Try" hit #3 on Billboard's R&B chart and #36 pop, blending gospel fervor with R&B; it was later covered by the Rolling Stones.
Follow-up hits included "Everything Will Be Alright" (#19 R&B) and "Have Faith" (#11 R&B, #73 pop) in 1958. Success funded his 24-hour soul food spot, Gene's Drive-In, in Nashville, though his chart run faded by the early 1960s.
Allison continued performing sporadically and sought a comeback before dying of kidney and liver failure on February 28, 2004, in Nashville at age 69. He was survived by wife Evelyn, three daughters, a son, 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren
Gene Allison
Written-By – T. Jarrett
2:06
A2 I'll Be Waiting For You
Written-By – S. Kari
2:28
A3 Hey, Hey, I Love You
Written-By – T. Jarrett
2:36
A4 I Don't Know Why
Written-By – S. Thompson
2:32
A5 Everything's Alright
Written-By – C. Otis, W. Dixon
2:24
A6 I Believe In Myself
Written-By – T. Jarrett
2:19
B1 Have Faith
Written-By – H. Stone, S. Thompson
2:41
B2 Let There Be Women
Written-By – A. Tucker, R. Catron
2:23
B3 Everybody But Me
Written-By – P. Tate
2:35
B4 Reap What You Sow
Written-By – R. Gaines
2:06
B5 Tell Me The Truth
Written-By – T. Jarrett
2:37
B6 Let's Sit And Talk
Written-By – T. Jarrett
2:44
Label: Vee Jay Records – VEE JAY LP 1009
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Rhythm & Blues
The 1964 self-titled album by Nashville R&B singer Gene Allison, often associated with his hit-making era on the Vee-Jay label, is a prime example of early soul. It features his signature church-influenced, passionate vocals, most notably on his top-5 R&B hit, "You Can Make It If You Try".
The album is characterized by a blend of sacred, gospel-tinged vocals with secular R&B, featuring sparse, moody arrangements.
It includes his 1957 breakout hit "You Can Make It If You Try" (later covered by the Rolling Stones) and similarly styled, emotionally charged tracks like "Have Faith" and "Everything Will Be Alright".
While his career saw ups and downs, the material from this period highlights his role in shaping the Nashville R&B sound, characterized by a "deep soul" feel.
It was released during the peak of his association with Vee-Jay, showcasing his work with mentor and songwriter Ted Jarrett.
The album serves as a concise collection of Allison’s most impactful work prior to the mid-60s soul explosion. It showcases a transition from 1950s R&B toward a more polished soul sound, with a high-rated, rare 4.33/5 rating on Discogs.