Died On This Date (April 18, 2024) Dickie Betts / The Allman Brothers Band
themusicsover It’s with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Dickey Betts, whose incredible talent as a songwriter and guitarist, paired with Duane Allman‘s prowess, truly shaped the Southern rock scene of the ’60s and ’70s. He passed away on Thursday in Osprey, Fla., at the age of 80.
Back in 1969, Betts, along with bassist Berry Oakley, joined forces with members from other Florida bands, including Duane and Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson. Together, they formed what would become the legendary Allman Brothers Band, making their mark from their base in Macon, Ga.
Known for their electrifying live performances and epic jams, especially on Betts’ masterpiece “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” the Allmans skyrocketed to fame with their iconic 1971 album At Fillmore East, which peaked at No. 13.
Even as Betts pursued solo projects, often under the name Great Southern, his contributions to the Allman Brothers Band remained undeniable. His solo debut, Highway Call, hit No. 19 in 1974, showcasing his individual brilliance amid the band’s peak popularity.
In 1995, Betts received the ultimate honor when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Allman Brothers Band. His legacy as a Southern rock pioneer will continue to resonate for generations to come.
What You Should Own
Greg Trooper was a singer-songwriter who, besides building up a hefty library of his own releases, had songs recorded by Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Maura O’Connell, Robert Earle Keen, and Billy Bragg, among others. Born in Neptune, New Jersey, Trooper spent much of his teenage years frequenting folk venues of Greenwich Village. It served him well. After a detour to Kansas for college, he settled in New York City where he spent more than a decade playing clubs, pitching his songs, and recording his first couple of albums. By the mid ’90s, Trooper was living in Nashville where he released several more albums, working with producers like Buddy Miller and Garry Tallent of the E Street Band. Throughout his career, he released more than a dozen albums – the studio albums at least, to critical acclaim. During the summer of 2015, Greg Trooper was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which took his life on January 15, 2017. He was 61.
Guy Clark was the true embodiment of a “songwriter’s songwriter.” Born in Texas, Clark’s name is rarely excluded when conversations turn to the greats from that state. Alongside contemporaries like 