Search - Dickey Betts & Great Southern :: Bottom Line 1977

EX ALLMAN BROTHER DICKEY BETTS, LIVE NYC 1977 Recognised as one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time, Dickey Betts was one half of perhaps rock's finest guitar partnerships with Duane Allman, introducing melodic twin guitar harmony and counterpoint which rewrote the rules for how two rock guitarists can work together, completely scrapping the traditional rhythm/lead roles to stand toe to toe. Dickey Betts was ranked #58 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list in 2003, and #61 on the list published in 2011. In 1969, as part of his effort to recruit Oakley for his new group, Duane Allman came across Betts, who sat in at the audition. During the jams, twin guitar parts, influenced by the harmonised fiddle and guitar parts Betts had heard on bluegrass and Bob Wills records growing up, began to emerge and give the sound a unique flavour. Dickey Betts thus became a co-founder and key contributor to the Allman Brothers Band. In addition to the harmonies, his melodic, country-esque lead guitar style contrasted perfectly with Duane's fiery, blues/jazz-based technique. He also wrote songs, including In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Blue Sky that became radio and concert staples. After the death of Duane Allman in late 1971, Betts became the band's sole guitarist and also took on a greater singing and leadership role. He went on to write such southern rock classics as Jessica and the Allmans' biggest commercial hit,Ramblin' Man. Dickey's first solo album, Highway Call, was released in 1974, and after the ABB fell apart in 1976, Betts released more albums, starting with Dickey Betts & Great Southern in 1977, which featured the hit Bougainvillea, co-written with future Hollywood star Don Johnson.