According to Billboard, Gregg Allman has died at age 69. Very sad news.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/colum ... llman-dead

From the New York Times:

Gregg Allman, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, the incendiary group that inspired and gave shape to both the Southern rock and jam-band movements, died on Saturday at his home in Savannah, Ga. He was 69.

Mr. Allman had “struggled with many health issues over the past several years,” according to a statement on his official website.

The band’s lead singer and keyboardist, Mr. Allman was one of the principal architects of a taut, improvisatory fusion of blues, jazz, country and rock that — streamlined by inheritors like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall Tucker Band — became the Southern rock of the 1970s.

The group, which originally featured Mr. Allman’s older brother, Duane, on lead and slide guitar, was also a precursor to a generation of popular jam bands, like Widespread Panic and Phish, whose music features labyrinthine instrumental exchanges.

In 1977, Mr. Allman and the singer Cher, who were then married, performed in Brussels on tour for their album, “Two the Hard Way.” The project was poorly received by critics and the record-buying public alike.

Mr. Allman’s percussive Hammond B-3 organ playing helped anchor the Allman Brothers’ rhythm section and provided a chuffing counterpoint to the often heated musical interplay between his brother and the band’s other lead guitarist, Dickey Betts.

His vocals, by turns squalling and brooding, took their cue from the anguished emoting of down-home blues singers like Elmore James, as well as more sophisticated ones like Bobby Bland. Foremost among Mr. Allman’s influences as a vocalist, though, was the Mississippi-born blues and soul singer and guitarist known as Little Milton.

A more complete obituary is coming soon.

RIP.

Just a month ago we were talking about Gregg being in hospice care and then people denied it but he had been in very poor shape for years now.

RIP to a true American musical legend who I once actually got to see very close on stage at Jones Beach (they kept him protected from people even then) so I wasn't able to shake his hand.

On this weekend of Sgt Pepper it's time for some Allman Brothers.

R.I.P.

Very, very sad news. Unfortunately he has had so many health problems these last few years and it wasn't totally unexpected. I listened to The Fox Box this week and wow. Great performances. Thanks for the great music Gregg.

While I can't say I'm surprised, this is indeed a shock.

I got to see Gregg a few years back with his solo band at a theater in Keene, NH. He and his band positively smoked that night. For a guy who been through what he'd been through to still be able to put himself into his playing so intensely showed me that for Gregg, it was all about the music.

Rock and Roll Heaven will be having one hell of a jam tonight with brothers Gregg, Duane and Berry Oakley.

RIP. A great.

While I am a fan, I know this one will impact some like Bowie, Prince, Fogelberg, Kantner, etc impacted me. My heart felt condolences.

There's a bunch of articles at Rolling Stone online:

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

http://links.eml.rollingstone.com/a/455 ... 14ac402a3b

I have lost my musical hero. I had a gut feeling a while back Gregg wouldn't be with us much longer.
Deeply saddened in shock still. The first time I heard Brothers & Sisters I knew this was as good as it gets.
I'm feeling numb this morning.
I'll be playing Allman Brothers all week in tribute to the great man.

Gregg would put so much energy and passion into his music, it was beyond the call of duty. Thank you Gregg Allman for your incredible passion and great songs.

RIP

I know of him and the Allman Brothers Band, but I haven't ever listened to them. What's something for a good starting point? I'd like to give it a listen tonight in honor of him.

Any version of Live At The Fillmore is THE starting point imo. There are numerous variations both 2 cd sets & a box. The original set might be considered a VBO.

You could start with At Fillmore East or Eat A Peach by The Allman Brothers Band or his solo album Laid Back.

el

The best Allman Brothers for me are their first two albums with Duane as well as any of the live albums when he was alive. Just an unbelievable guitar player.

Can't argue with those choices.

I found Fillmore East on Google Play with a deluxe edition that has 4 extra tracks (one of which is 33 minutes long!)

Thanks guys, putting it on this evening after dinner.

Ahh, "Mountain Jam."

One of my true life hero's. The Allman Brothers music was always in my life from a young teen to a senior adult. Love you Gregg and Thank You for all the great, great music. Duane, Butch, and Berry are awaiting you.
RIP to everyone's brother.

I agree with the Fillmore East recommendations. That's one of the best live albums from anyone.

Here's a video of them from the Fillmore East a year before that record doing "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." It's an instrumental, so you don't hear Gregg Allman's voice, but he plays the organ. I think this is a great song and it's great to see a video showing the group working together. And it has Duane Allman.

RIP.

Another legend lost.

CBS Sunday Morning will do a piece on Gregg Allman tomorrow morning at 9AM. They were gonna do a segment on Roger Waters but that's postponed till June 4th.