Biography of The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band was the major instigator of the Southern rock genre of the '70s and one of the major rock acts of the first half of that decade; it continues to be popular today. In its original configuration, the group consisted of Duane Allman (b. Nov 20, 1946 - d. Oct 29, 1971) on guitar; Gregg Allman (b. Dec 8, 1947) on organ and vocals; Dickey Betts (b. Dec 12, 1943) on guitar and vocals; Berry Oakley (b. Apr 4, 1948 - d. Nov 11, 1971) on bass; and Butch Trucks and Jaimo (born John Lee Johnson, Jul 8, 1944) on drums. This sextet was a showcase for the twin-guitar work of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts and for the bluesy singing of Gregg Allman. It cut three albums between 1969 and 1971. Live at the Fillmore East, the Allmans' breakthrough third album, went gold four days before bandleader Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident. The group continued as a quintet, finishing its fourth album, Eat a Peach (1972), which was a major success. After bassist Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle accident, the group was augmented with bassist Lamar Williams (b. 1947 - d. Jan 1983) and pianist Chuck Leavell to complete its fifth album, Brothers and Sisters, which topped the charts and spawned the number two single "Ramblin' Man." But the group split up in acrimony after the release of Win, Lose or Draw in 1975.The Allmans re-formed in 1978, this time returning to the sextet format, with Allman, Betts, Trucks, and Jaimo being joined by guitarist Dan Toler and bassist David Goldflies for the gold-selling Enlightened Rogues (1979). Two more albums, Reach for the Sky and Brothers of the Road (for which David Toler replaced Jaimo and Mike Lawler was added on piano), were released before the band split again. Following the release of a boxed-set retrospective, Dreams, in 1989, the Allmans again re-formed, with Warren Haynes on second lead guitar and Allen Woody on bass, and to date they have released four more albums and toured extensively. ~ William Ruhlmann