By STEVEN WINE and RUSS BYNUM (Associated Press)
Dickey Betts, the famous guitarist who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and penned their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” has died at the age of 80.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer passed away at his residence in Osprey, Florida, as confirmed by David Spero, Betts’ manager of 20 years. Betts had been fighting cancer for over a year and also had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to Spero.
Spero stated over the phone, “He was surrounded by his whole family and he passed away peacefully. They didn’t think he was in any pain.”
Betts, along with Duane Allman, played lead guitar in the original Allman Brothers Band, contributing to the band’s unique sound and playing a role in the creation of a new genre: Southern rock. Acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Phish, and Jason Isbell, among others, were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B, and jazz with ‘60s rock.
Blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa shared in an Instagram post Thursday, “My first concert was Dickey Betts at Coleman’s in Rome, New York in 1983,” crediting Betts with inspiring his favorite electric guitar model. “Blew my mind and made me want a Les Paul.”
Established in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, deviating from the traditional idea of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. The band was also notable as a biracial group from the Deep South.
Duane Allman passed away in a motorcycle accident in 1971, and founding member Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle crash a year later. This left Betts and Allman’s younger brother Gregg as the band’s leaders, but they often clashed, and substance abuse led to further dysfunction. The band disbanded at least twice before reuniting and has had over a dozen lineups.
The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2012. Betts officially left the group in 2000 and also played solo and with his own band Great Southern, which included his son, guitarist Duane Betts.
Forrest Richard Betts was born on Dec. 12, 1943, and was raised in the Bradenton, Florida area, close to the highway 41 mentioned in “Ramblin’ Man.” His family had been living in the area since the mid-19th century.
Betts grew up listening to country, bluegrass, and Western swing music, and initially played the ukulele and banjo before focusing on the electric guitar to impress girls. At 16, he left home for his first road trip, joining the circus to play in a band.
He came back home and teamed up with bassist Oakley to form a group that became the Jacksonville, Florida-based band Second Coming. One night in 1969, Betts and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a successful session musician, and his younger brother, forming the Allman Brothers Band together.
The band relocated to Macon, Georgia, and put out a self-titled debut album in 1969. A year later, they released the album “Idlewild South,” featuring Betts’ instrumental composition “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” which soon became a staple in their concerts.
The 1971 double album “At Fillmore East,” which is now considered one of the best live albums of the classic rock era, was the Allmans’ breakthrough and solidified their reputation by displaying the special guitar interplay between Allman and Betts. Allman played bluesy slide guitar, while Betts’ solos and singing leaned the band towards country. When combined in harmony, their playing was very distinct.
The group also had two drummers: “Jaimoe” Johanson, who is Black, and Butch Trucks.
Duane Allman passed away four days after “Fillmore” was certified as a gold record, but the band continued and audiences kept growing. The 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” reached No. 1 on the charts and included “Ramblin’ Man,” with Betts singing the lead and bringing twang to the Top 40. The song reached No. 2 on the singles charts and was kept from the No. 1 spot by “Half Breed” by Cher, who later married Gregg Allman.
The impressive sound of Betts’ guitar on “Ramblin’ Man” echoed in bars across the country for decades, and the song showcased his talent for catchy melodies. “Ramblin’ Man” was the Allmans’ only Top Ten hit, but Betts’ catchy 7 1/2-minute instrumental composition “Jessica,” recorded in 1972, became a favorite on FM radio.
Betts also wrote or co-wrote several of the band’s other well-liked songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years the group remained a successful touring act with Betts and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks passed away in 2017.
After permanently leaving the Allmans, Betts continued to perform with his own group and resided in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna.
