Gregg Allman just died. If all you know of The Allman Brothers is "Ramblin' Man," then you don't understand one of the greatest bands in history. As a guitar nut, I can gush for hours about both Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, but also about Warren Haynes, and holy shit, Derek Trucks, who started playing guitar for the band before he could drive. Yes, he was Butch Trucks's nephew, but he was also just a prodigy guitarist who deserved to be in the band. Butch committed suicide a few months ago. Derek and Susan Tedeschi currently have the best blues band in generations going together, though.
I haven't even started on their bass players. They lost Berry Oakley, and kept going. Oteil Burbridge. Amazing bassist. Then the percussionists... Jaimoe has a great side project called Jaimoe's Jasssz Band.
But of course, this is a post to honor Gregg. He could sing, he could play keyboards, he could write, and he kept that band going. The history of The Allman Brothers deserves more than a post. It deserves a book or two, but they have been written. This is part of my Sunday bluegrass series, so today you get a bluegrass cover of Midnight Rider. Tomorrow morning is the blues series. You better believe that'll be for Gregg too. I even have something for Tuesday in mind.
In political obituaries, former Senator Jim Bunning died. He was the Ted Cruz of his era, meaning that everybody on both sides of the isle hated him for being the platonic ideal of "douchebag." So, ya' know, good day/bad day.
Gregg, we'll miss, along with Butch, Duane and Berry.
