Benztown Issues Audio Tribute for Legendary Dickey Betts

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, April 18, 2024

Dickey Betts Tribute

Benztown has produced an audio tribute to Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dickey Betts, legendary songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, who died Thursday at age 80, at his home in Osprey, FL, surrounded by his family. Listen to the audio tribute to Dickey Betts here.

Born Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts on December 12, 1943, in West Palm Beach, FL, and raised in the Brasenton, Florida, area, Betts left home at 16 to join the circus and play in a band. He returned home to co-found a band, Second Coming, with bassist Berry Oakley in Jacksonville, FL. In 1969, the two jammed one night with Duane Allman and his younger brother, Gregg, and together they formed the Allman Brothers Band. The original Allman Brothers Band also included "Jaimoe" Johanson and Butch Trucks, both drummers.

The group moved to Macon, GA, and released their self-titled debut album in 1969, followed by a highly acclaimed double live album in 1971, "At Fillmore East." Betts and Duane Allman shared lead guitar duties, creating a unique blues-rock sound with the interplay of their two guitar styles, and defining the Southern Rock genre. Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident four days after the live album was certified gold, but the band continued on and released the album "Brothers and Sisters" in 1973, which included the group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man."

Betts wrote "Ramblin' Man" and sang lead vocals on the track in his distinctive twang. The song hit No. 2, behind Cher's "Half Breed," which was No. 1. Betts went on to write a 7 1/2 minute instrumental, "Jessica," in 1972, and also wrote the band's songs "Blue Sky" and "Southbound."

The Allman Brothers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The band also was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2012. Betts left the band in 2000, and went on to play solo and with his band, Great Southern, which featured his son, Duane Betts, also a guitarist.

Betts is survived by his fifth wife, Donna, and four children.