http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stor...lid=inform_artr
PEACH BUZZ: Late singer gets 'Idol' dedication
By Richard L. Eldredge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/20/08
When "American Idol" contestant and former Buckhead nightspot singer Michael Johns dedicated his performance of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" Tuesday night, many in the close-knit Atlanta music community got a lump in their throats.
Johns announced on air he had selected the song as a tribute to late Garrison Field frontman Jon Allmett, who was just 36 and a newlywed when he died unexpectedly last August. Allmett, a native of England, and the Australian Johns frequently hung together at clubs like C.J.'s Landing during their years singing in Atlanta clubs (Garrison Fields' 1998 debut disc "Open" was a particular favorite here at Buzz Central).
Friends and fans said Wednesday that the song Johns selected was much loved by the late Garrison Field singer, whose band was often described as "Beatlesque."
On Wednesday, Q100 "Bert Show" Entertainment Buzz correspondent Jen Hobby shared an e-mail with us from a friend of Allmett's who announced that the longtime musical director of Camp Twin Lakes also will have a music room and recording studio dedicated in his name this summer at the camp enjoyed by metro Atlanta special-needs kids.
The singer's page at Myspace.com/jonallmett remains up and operating with benefit updates and touching tributes posted by family and friends (Johns, incidentally, is Allmett's No. 2 "friend" on the page).
Collective Soul guitarist Dean Roland, his business partner Paul Broft and their hipster nightlife Web site investors also were praising Johns on Wednesday. During his taped interview segment on "A.I." Tuesday night, Johns sported a SneakySunday.com T-shirt, giving a plug on the No. 1-rated TV show for the Atlanta-based Web site poised to go national in 90-plus cities on April 1.
The Web site is designed to help nightcrawlers with crucial clubbing, dining and other hospitality-oriented decisions on nights other than the traditional Friday and Saturday.