In the mystery that is life, Jonathan Lee Allmett was taken from on August 20, 2007 . He was 36 years old.
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From England to Houston to Japan to Atlanta to Chicago, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jon Allmett brought an enormous amount of life experience to his music. His pop-ready, soulful mix of smart, well-crafted songs had earned him (and his former band, Garrison Field) critical acclaim and ravenous fan support in Atlanta. With his move to Chicago in early 2002, Allmett launched the next phase of his unstoppable ascension into the upper echelons of the music world.
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A lot of people can play guitar, some can even write songs, but it’s rare to come across someone who can do both extremely well and who can sing. That is, really sing from the inside out — with a voice full of passion, conviction, power and soul. Allmett was all that and more. His talent for crafting smart, hook-laden pop masterpieces along with the ability to sing them with confidence, deep soul, and an intensity not often heard on the radio made Allmett a force with which to be reckoned. “Allmett can sing anything and smother it in old school smooth soul,” raved Atlanta’s In Sitemagazine. “His soul grooves sizzle with white hot intensity. He beckons you down a path you’ll never want to stray from. Jon Allmett is that good.”
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After moving to Chicago early in 2002, Allmett began working on new material, showcasing it at clubs around the city. When the songs were road-tested and ready, he co-produced and recorded his new solo album, NOWHERE IS TOO FAR, with former bandmate Aaron Thompson. From the immediately pleasurable sounds of Sermon to the hook-filled pop of Sex And Soulfood, to the emotionally charged, autobiographical Open Wound, Allmett wrote with a keen eye and sang with intensity and forceful purpose. The radio-friendly arrangements and intelligent lyrics are at once thought provoking and danceable, the stories both personal and universal.
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Born in Surrey, England, and raised in Houston, Texas, Allmett began singing at age six. He studied voice and classical music at the Houston School for Performing and Visual Arts, and first performed at age 12 during his sixth grade talent show. His love of music from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to Sting to Pink Floyd to Paul Simon to Leonard Bernstein led him to begin writing songs and playing guitar at age 17, and he became skilled quickly. He joined the Marines, and, while stationed in Japan, formed his first band, Buzzcat, with Japanese nationals. His singing brought him to the attention of fellow Marines as well as locals and led him to even sing a few gigs with the legendary vocal group, the Drifters, when they performed in Okinawa.
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In the short time he played professionally, Jon turned many heads and made some pretty influential friends along the way. He opened for and sang back-up with John Mayer, who was completely blown away by Jon’s voice. In 1998, Allmett placed second at an open mic contest in Atlanta. The first place winner was none other than india.arie. The two became fast friends, and when Jon’s band Garrison Field recorded their first CD, OPEN, arie sang back-up on two songs. The strength of the CD led The Southern Local Area Band network (SLAB) to name Garrison Field 1999’s Band Of The Year, declaring Allmett and his bandmate’s music as “very funky, very danceable and very addictive. Completely and totally outstanding.” The band’s next album, 2002’s DAWN, received even more widespread critical and popular regional acclaim. Music review site Blah3.comcalled the album “remarkable. Smart well-produced rock with perfect vocals.” 2Walls.com said the CD was “good old-fashioned rock music, a welcome breath of fresh air. Exceptional guitar work, instant hooks, funky and soulful.” Garrison Field toured heavily around the Atlanta region and attracted a large following. In addition to india.arie and John Mayer, some of the other artists Allmett shared stages with include Peter Frampton, Corey Glover, Edwin McCain, Jeffrey Gaines and Simon Phillips.
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On August 20th, Jon, at the age of 36, formerly of Atlanta, GA and most recently of Houston, TX passed away. The obituary reads: Our most giving and loving husband, son, brother and friend slipped from our arms to enter eternal peace. Jonathan was born in Epsom Surrey, England on February 23, 1971. He moved with his family to Texas in 1978 and spent the remainder of his childhood in Houston. He attended the Houston School for the Performing & Visual Arts and graduated from Eisenhower High School and was a current student at The University of Houston. Jonathan joined the Marines and spent four years stationed in Okinawa, Japan and in the Philippines. Jonathan was a professional musician whose incredible voice and stage presence left his listeners spellbound. During his remarkable life, Jonathan wrote and recorded countless original songs both with his band, Garrison Field, and as a solo artist. CDs include "Open", "Dawn", "Nowhere is Too Far", and "Some Trees Grow Bananas". Jonathan touched thousands of lives through his music. He also recorded two Christmas CD compilations for charities. He was the musical director for Camp Twin Lakes special needs camps for the last 8 years. His work with the camp kids was the most significant of his life; every single one of their hearts touched his. Jonathan recently joined Bootleggers Music Venue in Minneapolis as a partner in charge of all booking and entertainment. He also recorded commercials for Earhole Agency, Leo Burnett Agency and Spank Agency in Chicago. He leaves behind his wife, Dr. Michelle Ludwig of Houston, whom he recently married on May 26, 2007, his parents John and Carol Allmett of Panama City Beach, FL, brothers Colin and Justin Allmett of Atlanta, his Nan Iris Poulter of Wiltshire, England, uncles Malcolm and Geoffrey Poulter, and many other relatives in the UK. Jonathan had the most vibrant personality and giving heart of any angel on earth. His generosity to all who had the pleasure of sharing his life will always be remembered. Without him, our hearts are broken and our tears run endless, but our memories and joys are immeasurable. If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever and now the pause in our hearts is from the echo of Jonathan.
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a year.. wow. I still cant believe it. August just doesnt seem to be my month Jon.. My dad died yesterday..[well, I'm sure you already knew that..], but things just really really suck. I miss you, ♥
Talked to you a lot... haven't written in a while. Your mom's pretty down, tryin to cheer her up. Can't believe a year has gone by. I miss you man. There's a great new pic Breedlove (Hey Jen) put up of you on this thing. You look fit and satisfied, Schlancha, adam
Jon i could really use a vist from you. i pray for you to visit me every night... and ive been waiting for a while now. i know that you are probably very busy singing to all the children in heaven. but we need you down here too. i love you Jon love is wider than the miles between you and me
every time i hear some great black soul through a white voice i think of you jon. only problem is that what i hear doesn't hold a candle to your voice...and energy... and sweetness.
A year ago today was one of the absolute worst days of my life. Today, instead of sulking around all miserable, I made myself be in a good mood, for you. I know that you wouldn't want us sulking around being sad. It was a great day because you inspired me. I love you Jon Allmett. You are my Georgia Gold and you will always keep the sun shining on in my heart.
Jon. One year ago, I got a phone call. and I cryed all night and suffered through school the next day. People say it gets easier, but it really doesn't. I miss you more and more everyday. Jon, you were my biggest hero.
man its been a year and I miss you soooo much...there have been so many times in this pass year where I just wanted to give up everything...but i wud think to myself about you and camp sunshine and how thats not what yall would want me to do...thngs will never be the same but Im glad you are in a place of peace! i love you!! ~amber jenae
A year ago today i got the phone call telling me that you had found your rainbow connection...since then i know that you have been with me ever since! I love you and miss you so much but i know that "love is wider than the miles between you and me.." i hope i have made you proud
i cant believe its been a year. i feel like it just happened. i need you so bad Jon. nothing is the same knowing your not here. I mean i know your with us all bc i feel it but its just not the same. i love you Jon
Things are not going well. and sometimes I just dont know how to deal with it anymore. I wish you were here. I miss you. But I know that you are better off where you are, come visit tonight will ya? [i.love.you] ♥
just had to listen to your tunes, been going through some difficult timees,iam in canada now,i bet you know but its just hard,iam from some counrty dirt road type stuff ya know?and being here is like being in japan,ya dont know anything or anyone...and you know we had some friends pass away,and i just need some help,and damn me and Tbone didnt go to camp,i think nxt summer we'll go to the kids one or go straight into the teen one,iam not sure how they do it but i miss ya man and i hope your family and everyone is doin ok,i love you man!
man, just got back from camp, it was deff weired watchin scott and joel and not u and scott, they did great tho and ud be proud of them, god i miss you man !
i never thought that on my seventh year of going to camp, i wont see you there. it just wont feel the same without you. i mis syou so much, jon. we need you here.
hey jon,I'm thinking of you and our "wine tasting" nights in italy!Even if we did'nt see each other very often you truly left something very important in my life...lessons I'll never forget. miss you
you know things are bad but i know they'll get better,i just cant imagina how its gonna be when iam back,just help me out..i miss you man its just crazy your gone,bubt i know your ok now,say hi to liz for me,i miss her...i just never had the chance to tell her how good of a friend she was..see you someday,and i'll talk to you later love ya man.
jon, i miss you so much. i think about you everyday, and as camp is coming closer and closer, i think about you even more. words cannot describe how big of an impact you have had on my life. i love you.
Jon i have been thinking about you aot lately..i am getting ready to leave for school and I dont know if i am ready for so much change!! but i need you to look after my best friend in the marines for a little while I dont know how well he is going to do. but I love you and miss you so much..come visit me soon
so it's two hours before i'm supposed to take my senior pictures, and my mom and i were talking. we were talking about what i am going to use for my senior quote this year, and i was lost. i had no idea whatsoever. then it popped into my head... "forever let the sun shine on."
it says so much in so few words. i just felt like sharing with you, jon. i love you. and i miss you more and more with every day that goes by.
Camp was pretty amazing Brother. Thank you for that. I had this terrific kid, well you know. Every time i saw a butterfly or heard your songs i felt you. You would've been so proud of little Justin... actually he's gettin kinda buff. He and Scot sang their hearts out. Though walking into the gym to watch the slide-show on Friday night and listening to you was something. I met so many of your friends. It was really cool putting faces to the names. Didn't realize Steve was who you were writing the anniversary song for until after camp. So many good people there. Thanks for bringing them into my life. It seems to get even worse this missing you stuff. I'll keep an eye on your brothers. Big stuff going on with Instruments. I'm gonna try to make this go through and make sure Michelle's taken care of. Babbled enough - we miss you Uncle Jon!!
jon.. i miss you so much and camp is coming so soon. i keep thinking back on all the times that we had together. sometimes iam glad i was so homesick caus i got to spend more time with you. i still feel bad you had to stay up and sing to me every night. but i love you so much and you really showed me alot of things to value in life. i am scared to go back to camp without you. i know its gonna be so hard. but i know you will be there in spirit. i love you jon and am always thinking about you. camp will never be the same though. i love and miss you
man, it just hit me again, that in less than a month, ill go to camp for the first time in 8 years without you :/
its still really sureal to me that you arent here anymore. not a day goes by that i dont listen to your music or think about you. you were an amazing man, and did so much for all of us at kudzu.
i talk about you every day. im always telling someone about you and what a wonderful person you were. people who knew you were lucky. i love you jon! we will see each other again one day
Well.. What now bud..? lol.. I've learned to play some of your songs.. and not a day goes by that your cd cannot be heard through every room in my house, I still run around jumping and dancing like the very first year at camp.. I still imagine you dancing with me to brown eyed girl.. and getting the label :the girl with the big brown eyes"..lol. and then out of no where, in the middle of all my sillyness, I stop, and cry.. because feeling you here, just isnt the same as having you here. I really really miss you. Take care of my baby nephew up there ok.. tell him I loved him from day 1, sing him to sleep, because I cant.. and I'll see you both one day! I loveeeee you Jon. [♥]
jonnnnnn, hello dear. i haven't written you a comment in far far far too long. you know, i will never be fully satisfied with just telling you how much you mean to me. especially over a silly thing such as myspace. that will never be enough. but when i get to heaven, i know you'll be standing there waiting on me, and i will be completely overjoyed to see you, my friend.
i love you with all my heart! you are my hero, now and forever.
Jon, I missed you this year at camp. I missed getting that hug on the first day, and the last while i'm crying horribly. I'm still crying because everything still hurts. I think about you all the time, I miss you more then ever. You and Lizbeth were the hardest death's i've had to deal with. I bet you two are up there right now singing Georgia Gold. I miss you Jon, I can't wait to see you again.
I get to see your comments every day when I log into your Myspace and add them, but I never send you one of my own.
I sure do miss you. There isn't a time when I don't need you. I need to talk to you about crazy stuff that is going on. I need to tell you about the funny tv show I saw. I need to tell you about the email I got from that one guy we used to laugh about. It just doesn't get any easier not having you around. I miss you tons.
The only thing that makes me happy is thinking of all of your kids in Heaven hanging on you and begging you to sing and entertain them. I bet you're having a blast.
