The Allman Brothers Band is a band from Macon, Georgia. The band is labeled as "the principal architects of Southern rock." by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (http://www.ticketnest.com/concert-tickets/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame/index.php ). The band was originally formed in 1969. Two years later, Rolling Stone's George Kimball described them as "the best damn rock and roll band this country has produced in the past five years." The band has earned worldwide recognition for its impressive jamming and improvisational abilities.Eleven Gold and five Platinum albums are to the credit of the band between 1971 and 2005. The band is still very popular. It continues to record and tour to the present day.



Band history

Beginnings

On March 26, 1969, the band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida. It comprised of Duane Allman (slide guitar and lead guitar), Gregg Allman (vocals, organ), Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals), Berry Oakley (bass guitar), Butch Trucks (drums) and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (drums).

The actual Allman brothers, Duane and Gregg, had originally been in a garage band called the Escorts. They were later joined by Allman Joys and the Hour Glass. The Hour Glass had released two failed albums from Liberty Records. Duane Allman, with a stint as a session guitarist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama on Johnny Jenkins Ton-Ton Macoute album behind him, started jamming with Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks and Berry Oakley in Jacksonville. The nucleus of the band was formed when Duane brought in Jaimoe, a drummer he had played with before. Gregg was in Los Angeles, fulfilling the Hour Glass contract with Liberty Records. Duane summoned him back to Jacksonville to "fill out the band and sing."

Loss and triumph

Duane Allman could not live long after the Fillmore East album was certified gold. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971 in Macon, Georgia. The loss of their leader was a huge set back for the band. But the group quickly decided to carry on. At the same time, the album continued to gain FM radio airplay, with stations even playing 13-minute and 23-minute selections.

Turmoil and dissolution

The personality conflicts of the band members led to disintegration of the band. However. Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts both began solo careers, while Allman married Cher, separated quickly, reconciled, and eventually separated again. Drug abuse took its toll on the entire band.

Musically, Betts and Leavell were pulling in opposite directions. The tension resulted in the uneven Win, Lose or Draw (1975), with some members not participating on all tracks or doing so only from afar. A stop-start take on Muddy Waters' "Can't Lose What You Never Had", Betts' instrumental "High Falls", and Allman's Jackson Browne-influenced title song are the few stand-out tracks.

Revival

In 1989, Spurred by Allman's recent FM radio solo success, the release of archival material by PolyGram, and the start of regular appearances on the American summer outdoor amphitheatre circuit, the Allman Brothers reunited and returned to popular consciousness of the American public.

The current Allman Brothers Band lineup include Warren Haynes (guitar, vocals), Johnny Neel (keyboards and harmonica), and Allen Woody (bass guitar) joined originals Allman, Betts, Jaimoe and Trucks.

The Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks lineup were successful in continuing the band's connection with younger music fans via concert pairings with popular jam bands moe. and The String Cheese Incident, among others.

At the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2003 and 2005, the Allman Brothers were a major attraction.

Wanee Music Festival is the Allmans's own two day festival at the Spirit of Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida which is being staged since 2005.

The Allmans, Gov't Mule and The Derek Trucks Band perform on different stages along with younger roots artists the North Mississippi Allstars, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Nickel Creek, and many others.

Various advertising campaigns and television programs have used Allman Brothers' songs. "Jessica" is used in both formats of the BBC television series Top Gear.

Awards and recognition

The Allman Brothers have been successful in earning international fame and winning many prestigious awards and recognitions. Here is the list of their achievements:-

Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, 1996, "Jessica"

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1995

Ranked #52 by Rolling Stone Magazine on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

2004 Rolling Stone listed At Fillmore East as one of Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Duane Allman listed #2 of Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Warren Haynes listed #23 of Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Dickey Betts listed #58 of Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Derek Trucks listed #81 of Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

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