Allen Stone

Allen Stone is an American soul musician from Chewelah, Washington, United States. His website states that people describe him as a soul and R&B singer, yet he sees himself as a "hippie with soul." Stone was born on March 13, 1987 in Chewelah, Washington, a small town about 45 minutes north of Spokane with a population of approximately 2,600 people.

Allen Stone began his career singing at his father's church. His father was a preacher and his mother was an OB/GYN nurse. He sang in the church since he was 3 years old. By 14, Stone was leading worship at his church and playing the guitar. The draw of music for Allen was mainly being able to express himself to a crowd of people.

Allen did not discover soul music until he was a teenager. Once he discovered the music, he started collecting classic albums from the 1960s and 1970s. He was 15 when he heard Stevie Wonder's album Innervisions.

When one of his friends became successful in music, Stone decided to become serious about his musical career. Stacie Orrico, a close friend of his when he was a teen, had come out with a record and had become successful. "She was traveling, singing everywhere, and recording," Stone says, "She was just a year older than me and I was like, 'Man that would be so much fun to do, sing and actually have people listen.'"

When Allen was 18, he moved from his hometown to Spokane, Washington, where he attended community college for a semester followed by a year at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane. After that year, Stone had a realization. He stated in an interview with SF Gate, "I learned the history of the church and the conception of the Bible and learned about the religion and really just, like, didn't believe it... I got to the point where it was like, 'I don't believe this is the truth.'" Not long after, he moved to Seattle, Washington to pursue his musical career.