His death comes only a month after Allman released a statement denying he was in hospice care. It also comes only four months after Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks took his own life. This leaves Dicky Betts and Jaimoe Johanson as the last surviving original members of the group.
The Allman Brothers formed in Macon, Georgia in 1969 quickly becoming the cornerstone of Southern Rock while developing a reputation as a formidable live band (as attested by At Fillmore East) and one of the most popular acts of the 1970's despite the deaths of older brother Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley in traffic accidents in the space of just over a year.
The younger Allman's best known contributions to the group were "Whipping Post", "Melissa" & "Midnight Rider". He was also instrumental in getting Jimmy Carter elected President performing many fundraisers on behalf of his fellow Georgian. Allman's music was sometimes overshadowed by his drug problems and his marriage to Cher shortly after she divorced Sonny Bono.
Allman would enjoy modest success with The Gregg Allman Band most notably with his 1987 album I'm No Angel earning a hit with the title track. At the time of his death, Allman had completed his final solo album Southern Blood which is due to be released later this year.
Allman would re-establish his musical reputation along with the rest of The Allman Brothers with their annual series of concerts at the Beacon Theatre in New York City from 1989 through 2014. I regret never taking in one of those concerts.
Well, Gregg Allman has finally joined his brother in rock 'n roll heaven for a long overdue jam of "Whipping Post". R.I.P.
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