RIP thread

[Thumpalumpacus]

As I posted on AD:

Dickey Betts, a guitarist and the co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, has died, according to a family statement shared with CNN on Thursday by his longtime manager.

Betts was 80.

"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard 'Dickey' Betts," the statement reads. "The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away earlier today at his home in Osprey, FL., surrounded by his family. Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide. At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time."

Betts' manager David Spero told Rolling Stone the guitarist had cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Betts' early musical influences included bluegrass, country music and later rock and roll. Credited with helping define the sound and of Southern rock genre of the '60s and '70s, Betts, bass guitarist Berry Oakley, drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe joined brothers Gregg and Duane Allman to form the Allman Brothers Band in 1969.

Betts wrote and sang on the group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man." Initially, he wrote the song and intended for it to be sung by another artist entirely.

"I was going to send 'Ramblin' Man' to Johnny Cash," Betts said in 2020, later adding that he "thought it was a great song for him."

"But everybody liked that song. Even my dad liked the song, before we recorded it or anything. And I'm thinking I'm going to send this to Johnny Cash and see if he wanted to do it," he continued. "The producer (Johnny Sandlin) said we needed another song for the record and asked if I had anything. I said, 'Well, I got one but I was going to send it to Nashville for Cash to record.' He said, 'Let's hear it.' And then, 'No! we gotta do that.'"

Other big Allman Brothers songs written by Betts were "Blue Sky" and "Jessica."

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/entertain...index.html

One of my favorite guitarists and biggest influences, His songs were almost always joyful celebrations. Dickey plays the second solo on this one:





Even his moodier songs were compelling. In this one from LatF, Dickey is in your right-hand earbud, Duane Allman to the left:





I spent a good time driving through ranch country today, enjoying flower season down here, listening to Eat a Peach.