Luther Allison

orn and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Luther S. Allison started playing the drums at 5 years old. Allison began attending local arts schools, later being exposed to jazz in high school through the Jazz Arts Initiative organization directed by Lonnie and Ocie Davis where he had the opportunity to learn from and perform alongside the likes of Donald Harrison and Delfeayo Marsalis. Allison chose to further his studies at The University of Tennessee where he obtained his Bachelors of Music in Studio Music and Jazz with a focus in both Drum Set and Piano. During his time in Tennessee, Allison worked as a sideman for Gregory Tardy, Donald Brown, and Michael Dease. At the age of 19, Allison recorded his first record on drums as a sideman to leader Michael Dease on his 2017 release Father Figure. One year later he recorded again as a sideman for Michael Dease’s record entitled Reaching Out, this time as a pianist. Since then, he has had the opportunity to share the stage alongside many others including Conrad Herwig, Etienne Charles, Steve Davis, and Rodney Whitaker. Allison is currently studying for his Masters of Music in Jazz Performance from Michigan State University.