Allman Brothers Band Biography, Photos and Posters

Allman Brothers Band

Biography

Started: 1969
City and Country of Origin: Jacksonville, Florida
Music Background:
Awards: 1995 inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Grammy 1995 Best Rock Instrumental Performance, "Jessica"
Top Recordings: "Ramblin' Man," "Jessica," "Crazy Love"
Allman Brothers Band Biography: The original members of the band hailed from Macon, Georgia and consisted of Duane Allman (slide guitar and lead guitar), Gregg Allman (vocals, organ), Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals), Berry Oakley (bass guitar), Butch Trucks (drums) and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (drums). At first the 2 Allman Brothers Band Duane and Gregg formed a garage band originally known as the Escorts, the Allman Joys and finally Hour Glass. Under the final name they released 2 albums on Liberty Records. Liberty released all the members of the band except Gregg who they felt had some potential. During this time while Gregg was fulfilling his contract with Liberty Duane put together what would become the Allman Brothers Band Band. He then called Gregg who was in Los Angeles to come back and complete the group.

After playing extensively throughout the South the group released its first album The Allman Brothers Band Band. The effort received critical acclaim and attracted a cult following, but it had little commercial success. Their 1970 offering Idlewild South not only garnered critical acclaim it also proved to be quite lucrative. After this Duane teamed up with Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos group to record Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. At Fillmore East, a 1971 live recording from the New York mecca of Eastcoast rock also proved to be a huge hit. The group would be the last band to play the legendary auditorium before it closed its doors for good in June ofthat year. On October 29, 1971 in Macon, Georgia tragedy struck the band as co-founder Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident.

On their next album Eat a Peach Dickey Betts filled Duane's former role, and included a 34 minute version of "Mountain Jam" taken from their Fillmore East concerts. After this the group decided to add Chuck Leavell, a pianist. In November of 1972 Berry Oakley was killed also in a motorcycle accident only a few blocks from where Duane's accident. He was replaced by Lamar Williams and the group finished its next album Brothers and Sisters in 73. From this album the single "Jessica" reached the second spot on the Billboard top 100. By now the group had become one of the top draws on the concert circuit.

Just when the group was at its peak the band was beset by turmoil. Both Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts began solo careers. Gregg entered into a stormy marriage with Cher that ended in divorce. Meanwhile the band was beset by rampant drug abuse. The result was a subpar recording of Win, Lose or Draw in 1975. After Gregg was arrested on Federal drug charges Leavell, Johanson, and Williams formed Sea Level while Betts continued working on his solo career. Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas released on the Capricorn label were a compilation of previously recorded material and did not reflect the true turmoil surrounding the band.

In 1978 the group reformed with Dan Toler (guitar) and David "Rook" Goldflies (bass) replacing Leavell and Williams who continued their work with Sea Level. The new group had a minor hit with "Crazy Love," but it was clear that he group's popularityh had begun to wane. After Capricorn Records collapsed the groups catalogue was taken over by Polygram Records and the band signed to Arista Records. The resulting work was not pretty as the groups new offerings were slammed by the critics. In 1989 with the release on Polygram of the groups catalogued material the group was resurrected and made regular appearances on the American summer outdoor amphitheatre circuit. Warren Haynes (guitar, vocals), Johnny Neel (keyboards and harmonica) and Allen Woody (bass guitar) all joined the band. In the interim Lamar Williams had died from cancer in 1983. The group signed on with Epic Records and released Seven Turns which received rave reviews in 1990. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 95 and won a Grammy for "Jessica" in 96. The group won Grammy nominations in both 2003 and 2004 for Best Rock Instrumental Performances for "Instrumental Illness" from Hittin' The Note and One Way Out.

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