Died On This Date (January 21, 1983) Lamar Willams / Allman Brothers
themusicsover Lamar Williams
January 14, 1949 – January 21, 1983
Lamar Williams was the bassist for the Allman Brothers Band from 1972 to 1976, the peak of the band’s success. He also played in the post-Allman Brothers’ group, Sea Level. During Williams’ early days, he played with future Allman, Jaimoe, in a soul band called Sounds of Soul. His career was briefly interrupted when he was drafted and sent off to Vietnam. Shortly after his return, he joined the Allman Brothers Band, replacing original bassist, Berry Oakley who had died in a motorcycle accident. In 1981, Williams was diagnosed with lung cancer, believed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He was 34 when died as a result of it on January 21, 1983.