Dickey Betts' ex-fellow Allman Brothers Band members are honoring the late singer-songwriter and guitarist.
After news of Betts' death at age 80 was confirmed by his family on April 18, his former "Ramblin' Man" bandmates reacted with a heartfelt statement issued to PEOPLE in a press release.
"With deep sadness the Allman Brothers Band learned today that founding member Dickey Betts has passed away peacefully in his home in Sarasota, Florida, following a period of declining health," wrote the Grammy-winning band, co-founded by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman with an original lineup also featuring Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson.
"Dickey wrote quintessential Brothers songs including 'Blue Sky,' 'Rambling Man,' 'Jessica,' 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed' and many others," continued the statement. "His extraordinary guitar playing alongside guitarist Duane Allman created a unique dual guitar signature sound that became the signature sound of the genre known as Southern Rock."
Betts played with the band from 1969 through 2000, when he claimed to have been fired. However, in a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Johanson alleged he actually quit the group.
. . .
PEOPLE can confirm Betts' cause of death was cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the late artist's manager David Spero.
I've seen the Allman Brothers a couple of times, but later than 2000, so I never saw Betts live, and I regret that.
No comments:
Post a Comment