KARRIN ALLYSON
Yes, Karrin Allyson was a Tomboy. A member of the early 1980s Omaha rock band, that is. Back in the day, all-girl Tomboy with lead-singer Allyson made quite a name for itself on the local music scene. “We were even voted the most popular band in Omaha at one time and shot a video,” Allyson once recalled. That was while she was still taking classes at UNO. She also formed a jazz ensemble during those days and performed at local pubs including the Howard Street Tavern. Then came a weekend gig at M’s Pub — just her and a piano. Granted, that made for some rough mornings. “I’d be playing in clubs and bars at night and have to make it to Music Theory class at eight in the morning.” It was while performing at M’s, however, that Allyson decided music would be her future. “I realized that I could make a living doing something that was so thrilling and gratifying to me.” She’s still at it — and perhaps better than ever. Today Allyson is an international jazz star with more than a dozen albums to her name and five Grammy nominations, most recently in 2016 for jazz vocal album of the year. The 1987 UNO graduate lives in New York City but performs throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan and beyond.