Butch Trucks, R.I.P.

Butch Trucks, one of the founding members of the southern rock band The Allman Brothers, passed away suddenly yesterday. He was 69.


Trucks made rock 'n roll history as he was one of two drummers in The Allman Brothers Band. Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson were the foundation of the band's power and rhythm for more than four decades before the band decided to call it quits in 2014.


Following the break up of The Allman Brothers, Trucks continued to be busy with two bands - Freight Train Band and Les Brers. Younger fans may be familiar with Trucks' nephew, Derek Trucks of the Trucks Tedeschi Band. His other nephew Duane Trucks is a drummer with both Widespread Panic and the Hard Working Americans. Trucks also had a baseball connection. His uncle Virgil "Fire" Trucks pitched in the major leagues during the 1940's and 1950's primarily with the Detroit Tigers. He is notable for throwing two no-hitters during the 1952 season and had a reputation as Yankee killer (the Bronx Bomber variety, of course). Trucks died in 2013 at the age of 95. At the time he was the oldest living player in MLB.


I leave you with my favorite Allman Brothers song - "Jessica" an instrumental which showcased why the band has left an imprint on rock 'n roll.