Died On This Date (May 27, 2017) Gregg Allman / Southern Rock Pioneer

Gregg Allman
December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017

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Gregg Allman was the lead singer, keyboardist and primary songwriter for the Allman Brothers Band, which he formed with his brother, Duane Allman, in 1969.  The Allman Brothrers 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 ’70s. Their marriage of rock to country, blues and jazz – along with unmatched improvisational skills, laid the foundation of the Southern Rock scene which exploded in their wake. Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and the Marshall Tucker Band are just a handful of bands from the American South who built successful careers due in large part to the Allman Brothers’ direct influence. Between their formation in 1969, and ultimately calling it a day in 2014, the band released 11 studio albums and 16 official live albums while playing countless live shows during their on-again off-again run.  During one break during the ’80s, when most thought his career was over, Allman released a handful of solo albums including Laid Back and I’m No Angel, both of which went gold.  His most recent solo album, 2011’s Low Country Blues, was also his highest charting, debuting at #5 on the Billboard charts.  In recent years, Gregg Allman suffered from a series of health issues and ultimate lost his life to complications of liver cancer.  He was 69 years old when he passed on.

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Died On This Date (August 15, 2012) Bob Birch / Journeyman Bassist; Played With Elton John, Billy Joel, Cher

Bob Birch
July 14, 1956 – August 15, 2012

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Bob Birch was a respected bassist who worked both in the studio and on the road with some of pop music’s biggest stars.  Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Birch was exposed to the greats at Motown at an early age.  Fist playing the saxophone, Birch won several awards while in school.  He eventually took up the bass and earned a scholarship to Wayne State from which he graduated with a degree in music.  During the early ’80s, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.  During his early days in L.A., Birch played on a multi-platinum Jazzercise album.  One of Birch’s first gigs as a touring bassist was for Jose Feliciano.  In 1992, Birch was hired by Elton John and went on to be his primary touring and studio bassist.  The list of artists Birch also performed live or recorded numbers in the dozens if not hundreds.  It includes Billy Joel, Cher, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Gregg Allman, Brian Wilson, and Bruce Hornsby.   He also played on such soundtracks as The Scorpion King and The Replacements.  Bob Birch died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 15, 2012.  He was 56.



Died On This Date (September 2, 2003) Bruce Waibel / Firehouse, Allman Brothers

Bruce Waibel
July 9, 1964 – September 2,2003

Bruce Waibel was a rock bass guitarist who played for numerous bands, but most notably, the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, and Firehouse.  Basically a professional musician by the time he turned 13, Waibel began his career as a roadie for Gregg Allman who later added him to the band, first as guiarist then ultimately, their bassist.  Waibel also played with Rick Derringer and Stevie Ray Vaughan.   In 2000, he was invited to join Firehouse, with home he played for the next three years, when he left the band to spend more time with his family.  On September 2, 2003, Bruce Waibel was found dead in his home of an apparent suicide.



Died On This Date (November 11, 1972) Berry Oakley / The Allman Brothers Band

Raymond Berry Oakley
April 4, 1948 – November 11, 1972

berry-oakleyBerry Oakley was the founding bassist for legendary southern rock band, the Allman Brothers Band.  After moving to Florida from his hometown of Chicago, Oakley began playing with Dickey Betts.  The two soon hooked up to form the Allman Brothers with Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, and Jamoie Johanson.  They 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.  Oakley’s bass skills are particularly evident on At Fillmore East’s “Whipping Post.”   Berry Oakley, 24, died of head injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.  The crash occured just three blocks from where Duane Allman was killed in an earilly similar motorcycle crash just one year earilier.

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Eat a Peach (Deluxe Edition) - The Allman Brothers Band

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

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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At Fillmore East (Live) - The Allman Brothers Band