Coshocton native releases first country single

• Casee Allen of Coshocton wil perform April 17 at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds.
• Proceeds will benefit restoration of the 4-H horse barn on the grounds.
• Footage for a music for Allen's first single "A Shot of You" will be shot at the show.
• Allen previously played in Route 83 locally and moved to Nashville about a year ago.

COSHOCTON – Casee Allen will never forget the day as a second-grader he was asked to go the principal's office of Central Elementary School for a special phone call.

The 8-year-old was having some troubles at home and school. One of his teachers had a connection to country singer Neal McCoy and promised McCoy, Allen's admitted hero, would send him an autograph if he stayed out of trouble and got his grades up. She did one better, as McCoy called him at his school and it was put on the public address system for all to hear.

"I said 'Hello' and he said 'Is this Casee?" I said 'Yeah,' and he said 'Casee, this is Neal.' I said 'Yeah, right.' I'll never forget saying 'Yeah, right,'" Allen said with a laugh. "I made him prove it to me by singing a little bit of a song he was getting ready to release."

Allen still carries the clipping from the Coshocton Tribune on the story. He attended a McCoy concert last summer at the Tuscarawas County Fair and talked to him after. At first McCoy didn't remember the moment, but it came back to him as he read the news article. McCoy was more stunned that Allen was a country singer now starting to achieve success.

"He teared up a little bit and I did too," Allen said. "He was a big influence on my life wanting to do better."

Allen, 25, hopes to do a show with McCoy sometime in the near future, but living out another dream is closer on the horizon. Allen's first single is set to drop and it'll be celebrated with a concert April 17 at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. Proceeds will go toward improvements at the 4-H horse barn on the grounds. Filming for Allen's first music video will also take place during the show.

Allen said original plans was to release an album, which is still being worked on, but it was thought putting a single out first could help create greater buzz for a future EP release of six to eight tunes.

"A Shot of You" is about a man who recently broke up with his girlfriend and his buddies are trying to help him get over it at a bar. However, when the guy sees his ex-girlfriend dancing on the floor, he'd rather pass up any whiskey for a shot of her.

The song was written by Rick Ferrell, Micah Wilshire and Keith Follese. Ferrell and Follese penned "Something Like That" for Tim McGraw. According to Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems it was the most played song of any genre on radio for the last decade.

It's the only song not written by Allen targeted for his coming album. Allen said he never thought himself much a songwriter until being convinced to give it a try by Kip Moore, known for the hit song "Somethin' Bout a Truck." Allen said he's written about 80 songs since last July and cutting them down for an album has been tough. He recently pitched a song to Luke Bryan, the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year for 2014.

"You have to pick the songs that fit you as an artist; your stage presence, your personality, your voice, just everything," Allen said. "I'm happy to be a full-time songwriter now and getting attention that way too."

Before moving to Nashville about a year ago, Allen was known for playing locally in the band Route 83. He said he had been going into area bars since the age of 3 as family members played in various bands. Allen played drums as a kid, but switched to guitar about three years ago while messing around in the backyard with his brother, Evan Wesney. Wesney still plays bass for Allen and their friend, Logan Smith, of Route 83 plays drums.

It was quick regional success with Route 83 that convinced Allen being a hit country singer like his idol Neal McCoy wasn't as farfetched as he once believed.

"I always said if things got to this point where I had a single or music video, I'd like to come back to my hometown and do it to show my gratitude," Allen said. "Without the hometown support I never would have had the confidence to move to Nashville and try to make it happen."

llhayhur@coshoctontribune

740-295-3417

Twitter: @llhayhurst

If you go...

What: Casee Allen hometown single release show with opening act Billy Moody and the 8 Second Band as presented by Coshocton County 4-H Horse Committee and Silver Bar Saddle Club

When: 7 p.m. April 17 with doors opening at 5 p.m.

Where: Hunter Arena at Coshocton County Fairgrounds, 707 Kenilworth Ave.

Cost: Advance bleacher seats are $5 and include a free CD single. Advance floor seats are $10 and include a free CD single. Children 10 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at Woodbury Outfitters or by calling 740-294-7183.

Sponsors: McWane Ductile Ohio and Woodbury Outfitters