Allen Vega & the Hurricanes

Allen grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and first started playing guitar at age 15. As a teen, Allen was greatly influenced by his musically talented family, which includes his uncle, Grammy winner, Gold album recipient and West Coast Blues Hall of Fame inductee (Guitarist) David "Dynamite" Vega of Graham Central Station fame. Soon Allen developed a powerful blues guitar style, and began appearing at Bay Area jam nights. At age eighteen Allen joined his first professional band, Jack Rudy and The Blues Voodoo's playing throughout Northern California. They won the west coast "Best Unsigned Band" contest at JJ's Blues in Mountain View. Allen began making a name for himself within the local blues scene while with the Blues Voodoo's In 1987 Allen formed Smokin' Gun, a powerful blues trio. Smokin' Gun went on to win BAM (Bay Area Music) Magazine's Battle of the Bands, being chosen over 50 other bands. This win led them to opening for such acts as Elvin Bishop, Joe Louis Walker, Edgar Winter, Leon Russell, Lowell Fulson, Lenny Williams, J.J. Malone, Cool Papa, and many others. In 1993 Allen joined with Frankie Lee (a.k.a. Little Frankie Lee), a noted San Francisco Bay Area soul and blues artist on the road. As bandleader and music director for the Frankie Lee Band, he showed his capacity as he played his way criss-crossing the United States and Canada for five years. He not only showcased his powerful lead work, but he showed his sensitivity while backing a singer and provided leadership while maintaining a high standard of musicianship. Allen's powerful show openers and endless energy-packed finales caught the attention of many. His showmanship, stage presence, and his playing ability reflect the influences of Albert Collins, Albert King and Freddie King. While with Frankie Lee, Vega shared the bill with such fabulous acts as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Etta James, Buddy Guy, Bobby Murray, Sonny Rhodes, Lucky Peterson, Luther Allison, Kenny Neil, Coco Montoya and many others. He played such venues as Antone's, House of Blues, Buddy Guy's Legends, Morganfield's, B.B. King's, and many many festivals, including the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and Portland's waterfront Blues festival performing for crowds of over 40,000 people. In late 1997 Vega left the Frankie Lee Band to develop and present his own music as singer, songwriter and guitarist. Appearing at local Bay Area blues clubs. Allen was also regularly working and recording with Bay Area Blues Legend, J.J. Malone. After touring for nearly ten years Allen settled in Livermore California with his wife to raise their family only performing at private events and local clubs. For the past couple of years Allen has teamed up with world renowned recording artist Big Cat Tolefree and has been tearing up the Blues scene performing at most of the major festivals and venues throughout California and even opening for the Legendary B.B. King at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, Ca on 11/23/11. Allen's passion for the blues proved too powerful for him to hold back. Recently Vega formed a powerful cast of musicians portraying Allen's excitement for the blues, bringing back energy and tunes that have not been played for years. Allen has recently released a long awaited for album titled "Rough Cut" and is also featured on Big Cat Tolefree's album titled "Family Reunion" which is being released very soon!! Allen and Tolefree will once again be expanding their playground to include the States, Canada, Europe and wherever Blues Festivals may lead them.  
 
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