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SAN FRANCISCO -- Guitar fable Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man," has died. He was 80.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died astatine his location successful Osprey, Florida, David Spero, Betts' manager of 20 years, confirmed. Betts had been battling crab for much than a twelvemonth and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Spero said.
"He was surrounded by his full household and helium passed peacefully. They didn't deliberation helium was successful immoderate pain," Spero said by phone.
Betts shared pb guitar duties with Duane Allman successful the archetypal Allman Brothers Band to assistance springiness the radical its distinctive dependable and make a caller genre - Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans' music, which combined the blues, country, R&B and jazz with '60s rock.
Founded successful 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the accepted conception of three-minute popular songs by performing lengthy compositions successful performance and connected record. The set was besides notable arsenic a biracial radical from the Deep South.
Duane Allman died successful a motorcycle mishap successful 1971, and founding subordinate Berry Oakley was killed successful a motorcycle clang a twelvemonth later. That near Betts and Allman's younger member Gregg arsenic the band's leaders, but they often clashed, and substance maltreatment caused further dysfunction. The set broke up astatine slightest doubly earlier reforming, and has had much than a twelve lineups.
The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame successful 1995 and earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award successful 2012. Betts near the radical for bully successful 2000, and besides played solo and with his ain set Great Southern, which included his son, guitarist Duane Betts.
Forrest Richard Betts was calved Dec. 12, 1943, and was raised successful the Bradenton, Florida, area, adjacent the road 41 helium sang astir successful "Ramblin' Man." His household had lived successful country since the mid-19th century.
Betts grew up listening to country, bluegrass and Western swing, and played the ukulele and banjo earlier focusing connected the electrical guitar due to the fact that it impressed girls. At 16 helium near location for his archetypal roadworthy trip, joining the circus to play successful a band.
He returned home, and with bassist Oakley joined a radical that became the Jacksonville, Florida-based set Second Coming. One nighttime successful 1969 Betts and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a palmy league musician, and his younger brother, and unneurotic they formed the Allman Brothers Band.
The radical moved to Macon, Georgia, and released a self-titled debut medium successful 1969. A twelvemonth aboriginal came the medium "Idlewild South," highlighted by Betts' instrumental creation "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," which soon became a performance staple.
The 1971 treble medium "At Fillmore East," present considered among the top unrecorded albums of the classical stone era, was the Allmans' commercialized breakthrough and cemented their performing estimation by showcasing the unsocial guitar interplay betwixt Allman and Betts. Their styles contrasted, with Allman playing bluesy descent guitar, portion Betts' solos and singing tugged the set toward country. When layered successful harmony, their playing was particularly distinctive.
The radical besides had 2 drummers - "Jaimoe" Johanson, who is black, and Butch Trucks.
Duane Allman died 4 days aft "Fillmore" was certified arsenic a golden record, but the set carried connected and crowds continued to grow. The 1973 medium "Brothers and Sisters" roseate to No. 1 connected the charts and featured "Ramblin' Man," with Betts singing the pb and bringing twang to the Top 40. The opus reached No. 2 connected the singles charts and was kept retired of the No. 1 spot by "Half Breed" by Cher, who aboriginal joined Gregg Allman.
The soaring dependable of Betts' guitar connected "Ramblin' Man" reverberated successful vicinity bars astir the state for decades, and the opus underscored his knack for melodic hooks. "Ramblin' Man" was the Allmans' lone Top Ten hit, but Betts' catchy 7-minute instrumental creation "Jessica," recorded successful 1972, became an FM vigor staple.
Betts besides wrote oregon co-wrote immoderate of the band's different best-loved songs, including "Blue Sky" and "Southbound." In aboriginal years the radical remained a palmy touring enactment with Betts and Warren Haynes connected guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks died successful 2017.
After leaving the Allmans for good, Betts continued to play with his ain radical and lived successful the Bradenton country with his wife, Donna.
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