Gene Allison was an American R&B singer, best known for his smooth vocal style and his 1957 hit song "You Can Make It If You Try". This track, characterized by its soulful, gospel-like qualities, was influential in shaping the trajectory of R&B music, and was later covered by the Rolling Stones. Despite a relatively brief recording career in the late 1950s to early 1960s, Allison's contributions to the R&B genre are significant, demonstrating the crossover potential between gospel and secular popular music.