By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2027)
Luther Allison, musician and composer, recalls a stressful day trying to get to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for his performance. He got on his flight at 6 a.m. in New York City but was rerouted midair to Los Angeles and then again to Salt Lake City, Utah. It wasn’t until he landed in Salt Lake City the next day that he got the news: he just won a Grammy.
He performed at the Grammys with artist Samara Joy in 2023, and only a year later he was able to receive an award for his contribution on piano to Joy’s single, “Tight.” After barely making his performance in San Francisco and a long day of travel frustration and stress, the good news finally started to sink in.
“It was surreal. It was amazing. I’m the only musician in my family, and to have that sort of an award is unbelievable! That’s something generations in my family after me will talk about,” Allison says, reminiscing about the way it felt to experience such an honor—something he couldn’t have done without UT.
Allison stayed involved in all things music as a UT student. He played drums for the student-organized Love United Gospel Choir and also started a band, which played for lots of events around campus. He utilized mostly his drum skills and sometimes played piano. Allison regards the countless hours of practicing, performing at UT and in Knoxville as “the beginning of my professional career.” He went on to earn a B.M. degree in Studio Music and Jazz.
Allison’s first break came when distinguished musician Michael Dease visited UT to do a master class. Dease runs the Brevard Jazz Institute in Allison’s hometown of Brevard, North Carolina. Following the master class, a UT faculty member recommended that Allison join the institute after witnessing Allison’s abilities.
“That one opportunity single-handedly set things up for my career,” Allison says, noting how UT propelled his success. His work with the institute led to his first professional recording in New York City and to a lot of other recording and touring experiences.
After the monumental accomplishment of winning a Grammy, it’s hard to start thinking about what’s next, but Allison still has big plans. He will continue to compose and expand his talents in other ways, looking to partner with other disciplines and industries, such as dance, television, and museums.
Allison emphasizes that by living in the South for the first 22 years of his life—and attending UT for part of that—he was able to bring a different sound to the music scene in New York. He celebrates and leans into his individuality in his music, offering great advice to students at UT who aspire to be like him: “There’s something special that UT has to offer that no other institution can offer… get the most you can out of the uniqueness of that environment, and don’t take it for granted.”
