Born Scott Parker Allen, May 28th, 1956. Thirty one of his 55 years, he has resided in the South of France: Vence is his home away from home. Why are we so fortunate to have been graced with his presence? It all started in East Orange, New Jersey. His mom, his strength, and most definitely, his biggest fan, gave him his first guitar at the age of 16. After a year, he picked it up and hasn't put it down since.

He won his very first band competition at age 17, started playing the bass a year later. Self taught, he's never had a lesson. After enlisting in the army, the then 'Private Allen' was sent to Germany, where he met up with 'Meck' Meckenstock. He and 'Meck' took a road trip to the South of France, some months after being honorably discharged from the army. Scott's been here ever since....lucky us!

For a period in the '80s, Scott managed the Madison Jazz Club, at the Beach Hotel in Juan-les-Pins. His dark days, "bluesy black period, I was a hard motherf**ker, smoking, drinking too much, every other word on stage was f**k!" The crowd seemed to love the verbal abuse, as they kept coming back for more. Before the Ronnie Scott Trio, Scott's band was called Nice Touch, with Ronnie Rae on piano, he's still with him, as well as many other musicians along the way. The band members may change, but the funky bass and soulful vocals of Scott remain the same.

Hangin' out with Scott Allen in his crib, doin' laundry, sipping' tea, no Jack Daniels today, smoking Black & Mild wine flavored
cigars...talking the talk, groovin' with the man of soul, playing his videos, on stage with the "cats", 7 musicians (with whom he still plays), at La Séguinière in La Gaude, playing "Sex Machine", one of at least 1,000 of his recordings. Scott jumps up, starts playing his air guitar, smile on his face, "one of the happiest moments of my life..... just jamming'! Can't fake the groove...I'm a groover! Bottom line."

So, who does Scott Allen most admire and respect musically?
"I admire many musicians, artists, actors; I admire the people I've met in my life who have been my inspiration; from the baker to the vet; from the women friends to the partners! I love Prince, with whom I've had the honour and pleasure to work and play with in his movie "Under the Cherry Moon", and a month and a half paid vacation!" He has also done soundtracks for the French movies "Poule Et Frites" from Luis Rego and "Jesuit Joe". "I'd stop everything for Stevie Wonder. He's the most divine". Why? "He's the guy who's closest to things people have forgotten...I love his freedom, his boldness, his musicality, he takes it to another level". Just like Scott Allen. What's his message? "Love" and he has a million ways to talk about it.

September is here. Scott and his band have been busy all summer with gigs filling up the agenda. Over the years he has played Le Pouce, Le Croque Note, L'Aventure, the Beach Hotel with Armando Paone, the Radisson Hotel (running the afters for the Nice Jazz Festival), Wayne's, Cheries Café, Stars'N'Bars, Moods, la Note Bleue, The Black Legend, Shapko, l'Eden Beach at the Mala Plage, private weddings and parties from Aix en Provence to Roquebrune, and many more venues in between.

Now with La Rentrée, the suit comes on and he's teaching at the International School of Nice, for the second year in a row. The kids love "Mr. Allen" and who wouldn't want to learn a little soul from the "outrageous" groover himself.

What's next? Future projects: there are many: A special tribute to Stevie Wonder is in the works. Opening up his own club: The Ronnie Scott Project, with good friend and fellow "cat" Ronnie Rae, and teaching all year at ISN. It would be hard to imagine that you've never heard of the infamous, the one and only bass guitarist on the Côte d'Azur, our very own funky-groovin'-sex machine: Scott Parker Allen!

This Weekend, Embark on a Journey Through Heritage to Discover some of the French Riviera’s Hidden Secrets If you have ever wondered how the backstage area of the Nice Opéra looks, or if you ... >> READ MORE

Folk Legend Joan Baez is coming to Monaco Folk legend and political activist Joan Baez is coming to Monaco this autumn for a unique concert at the Grimaldi Forum on the 4th of October. Known as much for her music ... >> READ MORE

Les Étoiles de Mougins - a feast for the senses This weekend will see the village of Mougins transformed into a gastronomic gathering of all things foodie for the 6th International Gastronomy Festival. READ MORE