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The Allman Brothers Band

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band, formed in 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida. The brothers Duane and Gregg Allman founded it with Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson, known as Jaimoe. Later the group settled in Macon, Georgia. Duane played slide guitar and lead guitar, Gregg sang and played keyboards. The group had two drummers and two lead guitarists. It blended blues, jazz and country, and its live performances consisted of long improvisations and instrumental numbers.

Music and breakthrough

The first two albums, The Allman Brothers Band from 1969 and Idlewild South from 1970, sold modestly. The breakthrough came with the live album At Fillmore East in 1971, with long versions of In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Whipping Post. Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident that year and in 1972 Berry Oakley died as well. Even so the band carried on, with Eat a Peach in 1972 and Brothers and Sisters in 1973. That last album contains Ramblin' Man and Dickey Betts's instrumental Jessica. In 1995 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Influence

The Allman Brothers brought Southern rock to a large audience. They showed that a rock band could improvise like a jazz orchestra, and that guitars can complement one another instead of competing. The band stopped in 2014 after a final performance at the Beacon Theatre in New York.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Jessica and notice the two guitars that play the melody together and take turns. Do you hear how the piano adds a light, almost cheerful touch to it?

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsSouthern rock