The Allman Brothers Band was created in Jacksonville in 1969 by a group of extremely gifted young men from Florida, among whom was Dickey Betts, a guitar-wielding maniac from Bradenton.
They were huge in the '70s, almost faded into obscurity in the '80s, and then exploded in the '90s, finally earning their spot in rock history's hall of fame.
In Sarasota County, not far from the Highway 41 that he sings about in the Allman Brothers' most famous song, Betts gently passed away on Thursday, April 18, surrounded by loved ones.
In memory of Betts, I reread our 2020 interview regarding the inspiration for the Allman Brothers' "Almost Famous" film, as well as previous interviews,
including our in-depth 2014 discussion that transpired in Betts' den while we sipped on what he referred to as "hippie wine."
A (very) lengthy Q&A incorporating all of the insightful comments Betts offered me over the last decade or more is something I'd like to do someday.
At least for the time being, let's listen to Betts again as she discusses five songs that were pivotal in the Allman Brothers' breakout and the birth of Southern rock.
With a buoyant melody and lyrics that match ("love is everywhere," says the chorus), the Allman Brothers are at their most happy on Betts' first writing credit for the band.
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