At Hollywood's Hotel Café, a venue where up-and-coming singers put on small shows for their fans, an artist with a powerful voice is on stage.

With his red glasses, pale skin and long, curly blond hair, he doesn't have the stereotypical look of an R&B soul singer. But his voice and energy reminds listeners of music legends like Stevie Wonder and Prince.

Meet Allen Stone, a 24-year-old who grew up singing in his father's church in Chewelah, Washington. His childhood music playlist included African American gospel singers like Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond. He used gospel and R&B music to teach himself how to sing. FULL POST