Remembering Duane Allman

Howard Duane Allman was born November 20, 1946, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the eldest son of Willis and Geraldine Allman. There was a lot of laughter in the house. Geraldine was always saying, “Watchoo talkin’ bout Willis. You don’t know me. The Devil made me do it” and many other one liners.

Gregg and Duane became musically inspired by a rhythm and blues concert where they saw blues guitar legend B. B. King perform. Duane told Gregg, “We got to get into this.” Duane learned to play very quickly and soon became the better guitarist of the two. Gregg was forced to take up the organ. Duane loved making jokes at Gregg’s expense. He would often put a vase of flowers on the instrument and say, “Hey Look, Gregg has Tulips on his organ.”

Allman Joys

The boys formed “The Allman Joys” and their first and only hit was, “Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut”. The band opened up for “The Mounds”; a band which included Dicky Betts and Berry Oakley.  The bands became friends and decided to join forces. 

The Allman Brothers Band formed in 1969 by Dickey, Gregg & Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks, and Jai Johanny Jaimoe JJ Junior Jackie Childs Johansen. The band incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and country music, and their live shows featured jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.

Fillmore

The Allman Brothers Band went on to become one of the most influential rock groups of the 1970s. Some say they are the greatest American rock n roll band of all time. The Allman’s 1971 album, “Live at The Fillmore” is the greatest live album ever recorded. 

On October 29, 1971, Duane died in a motorcycle accident. It was a devastating loss to the band and to the world. He was a great player and one of the best slide guitar players of all time. He was a huge influence and as studio musician he played on over 10,000 songs. Duane was only 24 when he died. 

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