Dickey Betts, co-founding member of the Allman Brothers Band has died of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He passed away at his home in Osprey, Florida surrounded by his entire family.
He married his fifth wife, Donna in 1989 and leaves behind four children… Kimberly, Christy, Jessica, and Duane.
A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he and the band won a Grammy for his song, “Jessica.” And Rolling Stone magazine once named him one of the Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
He was born in West Palm Beach, raised in Bradenton, Florida and grew up in a musical family.
Betts helped form the Allman Brothers and then when Duane Allman died in 1971, he became the bands sole guitarist and took on more of a leadership role. He also performed and recorded solo.
We last spoke to Dickey Betts as he was preparing to release his 2019 album, Ramblin’ Man: Live at the St. George Theatre. During that conversation, he talked about, how it took time for the Allmans to land a record contract and get support from the industry. He told us this:
