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The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969.[3] Its founding members were brothers Duane Allman (slide guitar, lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals), Berry Oakley (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (drums). Subsequently based in Macon, Georgia, they incorporated elements of blues, jazz and country music and their live shows featured jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.
The band's first two studio albums, The Allman Brothers Band (1969) and Idlewild South (1970), both released by Capricorn Records, stalled commercially but their 1971 live album At Fillmore East was a critical and commercial breakthrough. It included extended versions of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and "Whipping Post",
showcasing the group's jamming style. Group leader Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971; however the band continued, releasing Eat a Peach in 1972, a dual studio/live album that cemented the band's popularity and featured Gregg's "Melissa"
and Betts's "Blue Sky". Following the motorcycling death of Oakley in 1972, the group recruited keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams for 1973's Brothers and Sisters. The album included Betts's hit single "Ramblin' Man" and instrumental "Jessica", both of which went on to become classic rock radio staples and placed the group at the forefront of 1970s rock music. Internal turmoil overtook them soon after as the group dissolved in 1976, reforming briefly in 1978 with additional personnel changes and breaking up again in 1982. The band re-formed once more in 1989, releasing a string of new albums and touring heavily. A series of personnel changes in the late 1990s was capped by the departure of Betts. The group found stability during the 2000s with bassist Oteil Burbridge and guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks (the nephew of Butch) and became renowned for their month-long concert residencies at New York City's Beacon Theatre each spring. The band retired in October 2014 after their final show at the Beacon Theatre. Butch Trucks and Gregg both died in 2017, and Betts died in 2024, leaving Jaimoe as the only surviving original member.
The band was awarded seven Gold and four Platinum albums by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[4] and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the band 52nd on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".[5]
The Allman Brothers and Jimmy Carter
The Allman Brothers Band and President Jimmy Carter had a friendship that lasted for five decades, and it extended well beyond politics. The members of the band first met then Governor Carter in 1974, and quickly recognized that he was a good and decent man, as well as a true music lover. The group was so struck by his genuineness and appreciation for their musical style that the ABB did a series of benefit concerts that kept candidate Carter financially viable during his 1976 presidential bid. The band backed him, and he stood by them, in good times and bad, showing a loyalty that is rarely found in a politician. Often seen wearing an ABB T-shirt on the campaign trail, Carter once stated, “I’m proud of my relationship with the Allman Brothers Band. They are good people, they are my friends, and anybody who wants a president who doesn’t like music like this should just simply vote for another man.” After his presidency, he stayed close to the guys in the band, and he said many times over the years, “The Allman Brothers helped put me in the White House by raising money when I didn’t have any.” The Allman Brothers Band family was saddened by the loss of their dear friend and a great human being – God rest your soul, President Carter.
