Allen Estes—Souls of the Sea

Allen Estes is a renown singer songwriter whose music is inspired by and reflects the modern day elements and romance of life by the sea. He will give a performance and talk about writing music that honors Gloucester and Cape Ann.

Estes grew up in a musical family, the oldest son of professional musicians Estelle and Phil Estes in Gloucester, MA, and began playing at age six. Phil packed the family in the car and literally took to the open road for musical adventures eventually leading to the forming of the Estes Boys, Allen's seminal band.

The Estes Boys performed in and around New England and by the mid 80s Allen moved to Nashville, TN, writing and working with Tammy Wynette, Robert Ellis Oral, Lori Morgan, and Shania Twain. After 10 years, Gloucester called him back, and in the 90s Allen recorded with writer Frank Tedesco. This turned into Allen's last album recording, Souls of the Sea, which is a collection of songs about the historic seaport and fishing town of Gloucester MA and the people who live there.

In the intervening years, Allen Estes has become a well known folk figure in New England and elsewhere, performing and writing the kind of music which reflect both the personal pain and the joy of an artist's journey.