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Dickey Betts, one of the founders of the rock group The Allman Brothers Band, is dead, the family announces on Instagram. He turned 80 years old.
“The legendary artist, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away at his home in Osprey, Florida, surrounded by his family,” the family wrote in the post.
Forrest Richard “Dickey†Betts was born in Florida and was a leading member of the Southern rockers The Allman Brothers Band, alongside brothers Gregg and Duane Allman. After Duane died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, he became sole lead guitarist during what became the group’s most successful period in the early 1970s, sharing vocals with Gregg.
Betts was one of the group’s songwriters and is, among other things, behind their biggest and only real hit song: “Ramblin†man†from 1973.
Six years ago he suffered a stroke.
Only one of the original members is still alive, drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe†Johanson.
