Dickey Betts
Musician
DICKEY Betts, who has died at 80, was guitarist and singer with the Allman Brothers Band, known for writing one of their biggest hits, Ramblin’ Man.
He shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original line-up to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre – Southern rock.
Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined the blues, country, R&B and jazz with Sixties rock.
Founded in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the traditional notion of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. Gregg Allman played keys and provided distinctive vocals, with the band also comprising a pair of drummers and bassist Berry Oakley.
Their self-titled first LP was released in November 1969, but they achieved their commercial breakthrough in 1971 when they released the album At Fillmore East.
Alongside Ramblin’ Man, Betts also wrote and co-wrote some of the band’s other best-loved songs, including Blue Sky and Southbound.
Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971 and founding member Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle crash in 1972.
In the following years, the band introduced new members, ventured into solo careers and split and reformed multiple times.
In 1995 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won a Grammy Award for best rock instrumental performance for Jessica the following year. The group also earned the Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2012.
Betts left the band for good in 2000, a year after their 30th anniversary. He continued to play with his own band, Great Southern, which included his son, Duane Betts.