December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024
Dave Ling looks back at the life and music of one of the co-founders of the Allman Brothers Band, one of the pioneers in bringing southern rock to the masses.
Dickey Betts, a co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band and one of the most influential and colourful figures in the realm of music known loosely as southern rock, has died following a period of declining health. His passing at 80 years old leaves just co-drummer Jai Johanny Johanson, aka Jaimo, as the last surviving member of the original line-up of the group.
A statement on behalf of the band recalled how Betts’s “extraordinary” guitar playing, alongside that of Duane Allman, “created a unique dual-guitar sound that became the signature sound”. Until that point it had been traditional for two-guitar bands to have defined roles for soloists and rhythm players.
The statement remembers Betts as being “passionate in life, be it music, songwriting, fishing, hunting, boating, golf, karate or boxing”, adding: “Dickey was all-in on and excelled at anything that caught his attention.”
It concluded: “Betts joins his brothers, Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman, as well as ABB crew members Twiggs Lyndon, Joe Dan Petty, Red Dog, Kim Payne and Mike Callahan in that old Winnebago in the sky touring the world, taking their music to all who will listen.”
The Allman Brothers Band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969, their free-form style fusing together elements of country, rock, blues and jazz. While brothers Duane (guitar) and Gregg Allman (keyboards, vocals) were the band’s leaders, Betts was a significant member, writing many of the band’s quintessential songs including Blue Sky and Ramblin’ Man, and also the instrumentals In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed and Jessica, the latter of which became the theme tune to the British TV show Top Gear.
On stage and in the studio, the band became known for their improvisational skills. Their tune Mountain Jam (based on the 1967 Donovan song There Is a Mountain), which appeared on 1972’s part-live double album Eat A Peach, would serve as an extended instrumental jamming vehicle for the Allman Brothers Band throughout their long and distinguished history.
Also recognised for his unpredictable, hellraising rock-star behaviour, Betts was the inspiration for the character played by Billy Crudup in the 2000 film Almost Famous. During Betts’s youth, trashed hotel rooms, arrests and fights with band members and authority figures were just a little too commonplace.
Forrest Richard Betts was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. At five years old he played the ukelele, and progressed to performing in several local bands before meeting future ABB member bassist Berry Oakley III and forming the group Second
