Dickey Betts, co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band, has died at the age of 80

CNN
—

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

Bates was 80 years old.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the Bates family announces the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard “Dickie” Bates. statement is reading. “The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away earlier today at his home in Osprey, Florida, surrounded by his family. Dickie was larger than life, and his loss will be felt around the world. In this difficult time the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy “More information will be provided in due course.”

said Bates Director David Spiro Rolling Stone The guitarist was suffering from 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 genre of Southern rock in the 1960s and 1970s, Betts, guitarist Perry Oakley, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jimmo joined the brothers. Greg and Duane Allman 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 another artist to sing it entirely.

“I was going to send 'Ramblin' Man' to Johnny Cash,” Betts said He said in 2020He later added that he “thinks it's a great song for him.”

“But everyone loved that song. Even my dad loved the song, before we recorded it or anything. And I thought I would send this to Johnny Cash and see if he wanted to do it.” The producer (Johnny Sandlin) said we needed another song to record and asked me if I have nothing. So I said, “Well, I got one but I was going to send it to Nashville to be recorded for cash.” He said: Let us listen. And then: No! We have to do it.”

Other big Allman Brothers songs that Betts wrote were “Blue Sky” and “Jessica.”

Tragedy struck the group when Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, and Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident a year later. Betts and Gregg Allman became the band's leaders, but creative differences and drug use in the group caused them to break up and reform several times.

In 1973, 16-year-old Cameron Crowe followed the Allman Brothers Band on tour for a Rolling Stone cover story, which would eventually provide the inspiration for Crowe's 2000 Oscar-winning film, “Almost Famous.” In 2017, Crow said The central rock star character of Billy Crudup is an “homage” to Betts.

In an email sent to CNN later on Friday, Crowe called Betts “a guitarist for the ages, and the musical glue that held the Allman Brothers Band together for many years.”

“Dickie's quiet warmth and timeless contribution to American music were a great inspiration for our film,” the director added.

Betts left the Allman Brothers in a highly publicized split in 2000. While the band continued to tour for nearly 15 more years and released one additional studio album, Betts toured with his group Great Southern, featuring his son Duane, and released another studio album New materials. Bates retired in 2014.

Also on Friday, the Allman Brothers Band issued an official statement, writing that Betts' “extraordinary guitar playing combined with guitarist Duane Allman created a unique double-guitar sound that became the defining sound of the genre known as Southern Rock.”

“He had a passion for life, whether it was music, songwriting, fishing, hunting, boating, golf, karate or boxing,” the statement continued. “Dickie was involved in everything and excelled at anything that caught his attention.”

When asked what he loves most about music, Betts told Sarasota Herald Tribune In 2020, it was primarily the impact it had on its audience.

“I basically love the fans, and what the music has done for them,” he said. “They got more out of the music than I did. … The audience really amazed me and how they could get carried away into another world at a concert.

CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this story.

This story has been updated with additional information.