Draft:Carl Allocco

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Carl Allocco' is an American musician, songwriter, writer, and startup co-founder based in New York City. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has recorded with multiple bands, secured major-label record deals, contributed thousands of personalized songs to the Songs of Love Foundation, and co-founded the Nashville fan-funding startup Bandtwango. His work has been featured in Musician Magazine, The Tennessean, and on Good Morning America. He has also been a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and was twice nominated for New York Music Awards. Following a full glossectomy in 2024 due to tongue cancer, Allocco has continued to create music using AI voice modeling technology.[1]

Early life

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Allocco was born in Queens and raised in Oceanside, Long Island, New York. He began playing guitar as a child and by his teens was performing in local bands. His early influences included The Beatles and classic rock acts of the 1960s and 1970s.

Career

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Dreamer (1979–1983)

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Allocco first came to attention as frontman of the pop/rock band Dreamer, which signed with RCA Records in the early 1980s. Although the group recorded an album while managed by Tommy Mottola through his company Champion Entertainment, it was never released. Mottola also managed Hall & Oates during this period, and later went on to become president of Sony Records. Dreamer performed in the New York club circuit, including the Bitter End, and built a following during this period.

Carl and the Passion (1985–1990)

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In 1985, Allocco formed Carl and the Passion. The group released the single "Everybody Walks Too Fast" backed with "How Do You Get Home" on the British label Neat Records in 1987.[2][3] The following year, the band was nominated for two New York Music Awards: Best Rock Band – Independent Label and Best New Vocalist (Carl Allocco).[4] In April 1988, Musician Magazine profiled the band, highlighting their work ethic and blend of pop-rock influences.[5]

Solo career

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Allocco released the solo album Gray under the pseudonym Charlie Dog in 1995.[6] His song "Somebody Like You" from the album was a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 1999.[7] He followed with Goodbye Charlie Dog in 2000, returning to his name Carl Allocco,[8] and Pure and Simple in 2006, a collection of songs from his time in Nashville.[9] In 2010 he released Odd and Endings, a compilation of tracks recorded through the years.[10]

Beyond his albums, Allocco has released numerous singles, including "I Want to Live My Life Again", "I Need You", and "In the Company of Strangers".[11] His work has been released under the Big Blue Sky record label and is available on Spotify and iTunes,[12] and is documented on AllMusic.[13]

In 2023–25, Allocco revisited and re-recorded portions of his back catalog with the aid of AI vocal technology, following his later glossectomy. He has also continued to release new material through digital platforms.

Songs of Love Foundation

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Since 1996, Allocco has been one of the principal songwriters for the nonprofit Songs of Love Foundation, which creates personalized songs for children and teens facing serious medical challenges. He has written more than 8,000 songs for the organization, making him one of its most prolific contributors.[14]

Bandtwango (2016)

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In 2016, Allocco co-founded the Nashville startup Bandtwango with Music Row executive John Alexander. The platform was designed as a "fan-funding" alternative to Kickstarter, offering artist development, mentoring, and industry connections in addition to crowdfunding. The venture was profiled in The Tennessean.[15]

94twenty Podcast (2020–2024)

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In May 2020, Allocco co-founded the 94twenty Podcast with Greg Riggle and Nicole Hoglund. The weekly show produced over 175 episodes featuring discussions on the current state of the music industry, cultural commentary, and interviews highlighting new and upcoming artists.[16][17][18] The show concluded in May 2024 following Allocco’s diagnosis with tongue cancer and subsequent full glossectomy, which left him unable to speak.[1]

Writing

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In addition to his music career, Allocco has written books. His children’s fantasy story A Squirrel’s Tail was published and is available via Amazon.[19] He is also the author of the memoir Finding My Voice, completed in 2025 and awaiting publication.[1]

Recognition

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  • In 1988, Carl and the Passion was nominated for two New York Music Awards: Best Rock Band – Independent Label and Best New Vocalist (Carl Allocco).[20]
  • Finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (1999) for the song "Somebody Like You".[7]

Personal life

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Allocco is married to Evelyn Avila-Allocco and lives in New York City.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Carl Allocco official biography – About page
  2. ^ Carl and the Passion – "Everybody Walks Too Fast" / "How Do You Get Home", Neat Records single release, 1987.
  3. ^ Carl and the Passion – Everybody Walks Too Fast / How Do You Get Home (Discogs)
  4. ^ New York Music Awards nomination certificate, 1988.
  5. ^ Dan Hedges, "Carl & the Passion: The Work Ethic and a Rabbit’s Foot," Musician Magazine, April 1988, p. 12.
  6. ^ Gray on Spotify
  7. ^ a b John Lennon Songwriting Contest, 1999 finalist list.
  8. ^ Goodbye Charlie Dog on Spotify
  9. ^ Pure and Simple on Spotify
  10. ^ Odd and Endings on Spotify
  11. ^ Carl Allocco artist page on Spotify
  12. ^ Carl Allocco on Apple Music
  13. ^ Carl Allocco – Credits & Discography on AllMusic
  14. ^ Good Morning America, ABC, January 2024 segment featuring Carl Allocco and the Songs of Love Foundation.
  15. ^ Nate Rau, "Nashville startup Bandtwango offers twist on crowdfunding," The Tennessean, November 8, 2016.
  16. ^ 94twenty Podcast on Spotify
  17. ^ 94twenty Podcast on Apple Podcasts
  18. ^ 94twenty Podcast on iHeartRadio
  19. ^ A Squirrel’s Tail on Amazon
  20. ^ Jim Santo, "Carl and the Passion," Musician’s Exchange, May 1988, p. 15.
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