Died On This Date (October 29, 1971) Duane Allman / The Allman Brothers

themusicsover October 29, 2009 3 Comments

Howard Duane Allman
November 26, 1946 – October 29, 1971

Before becoming a household name as founding lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band,  Duane Allman was an in-demand session guitarist who played on many classic records of the late ’60s.  His amazing guitar work was first heard on Wilson Picket’s superb 1968 recording of “Hey Jude.”  Eric Clapton was so impressed by Allman’s playing on that record, that he invited him down to the studio for the Derek & the Dominos sessions.  The two clicked and Allman joined on to add his signature guitar sound to most of the tracks on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.  It’s Allman’s guitar that is the most recognizable and most celebrated on the album.  Allman also played on hit recordings by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Clarence Carter and Boz Scaggs.  In 1969, he and his brother Gregg Allman, formed the Allman Brothers band, which went on to become one of the most influential rock bands America has ever produced.  Albums like The Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East, and Eat A Peach are considered landmark recordings of the rock era.  In Rolling Stone’s 2003 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, Allman came in at #2, just behind Jimi Hendrix.  On October 29, 1971, just as the Allman Brothers were reaching new heights in their career, Allman was out riding his motorcycle while the band was taking a break from the road.  In what was ruled an accident, Allman lost control of his bike as he tried to avoid a large truck that was turning up ahead of him.  Duane Allman died of his injuries at a local hospital.  He was just 24.

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