VOA标准英语2013--Devon Allman Releases Debut Solo Album, 'Turquoise'

 

Devon Allman Releases Debut¹ Solo Album, 'Turquoise²'

Devon blazed his own musical trail, without the guidance of his father Gregg.  That’s because Gregg Allman, co-founder and leader of the world-famous Allman Brothers Band, divorced his mother when he was just an infant and lost contact with Devon for years afterward³.

Devon says there were no hard feelings when he finally met his father for the first time.

“I ended up meeting him at 16 and we got along great," he said.  "We share a great relationship nowadays and it allowed me to grow up normal - not like a typical rock star’s kid - and really find my own path to music.”

Devon grew up far from the spotlight⁴, moving with his mother from Texas to Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri where he now resides.  He remembers following his father’s career and being a fan of the Allman Brothers during one of his many musical phases.

“I knew who he was and I liked the music but I was into other things," he said. "I was really into Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, and [Jimi] Hendrix and the Doors.  I went through the metal phase and I went through an alternative phase.  I’ve always listened to everything and I think that that’s important for a musician.”

Devon spent years crafting his blues⁵-rock sound on vocals⁶ and guitar, sometimes performing more than 300 shows a year.  Among the songs on his new solo album is “Homesick,” which touches upon the wear and tear of traveling.

“It’s a great life," Devon said. "I love to travel and I love to play music, but you do hit a wall every once in a while a few times a year where you’re just like, ‘Oh geez, I just want to be in my own bed and I miss my son and I miss cooking my own food, just that home base.’”

The lone⁷ instrumental on “Turquoise” is “Yadira’s Lullaby,” performed on a three-string cigar box guitar.

“Over the years the blues and blues-based music has really expanded across the globe," Devon said.  "There are now festivals in Singapore and Dubai, and I really want to play everywhere that I can.”

Devon divides his time between solo work and the all-star blues band Royal Southern Brotherhood⁸.  In addition, he performs an occasional stint⁹ with his father Gregg and the Allman Brothers Band. 

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 turquoise   

n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的

参考例句：

• She wore a string of turquoise round her neck.她脖子上戴着一串绿宝石。
• The women have elaborate necklaces of turquoise.那些女人戴着由绿松石制成的精美项链。

3 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

4 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

5 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

6 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

7 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

8 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

9 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。