Dickey Betts, a founding member of the renowned rock group the Allman Brothers Band, died at his home in Osprey, Fla. on Thursday. He was 80 years old.
This is coming after the songwriter had been battling two kinds of cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
He was surrounded by his whole family and he passed peacefully. They didn’t think he was in any pain,” Betts’ manager, David Spero said.
The news was shared on Betts’ official website in a statement by his family.
“Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide,” the statement said.
“Dickey was one of the most unique guitar stylists in the word, and you knew it was him when you heard him on record or live,” said longtime Allman Brothers member Chuck Leavell, who currently serves as the Rolling Stones’ music director/keyboard player, in a statement.
“He leaves an enduring and enviable legacy that we will all be celebrating for eternity.”
Betts’ blues, rock, and country-influenced guitar style helped define Southern rock in the 1960s and ’70s.
Betts was best known for the song “Ramblin’ Man.”
Released in 1973, “Ramblin’ Man” went on to become the band’s first and only top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts was born in 1943 in West Palm Beach, Fla. He came from a musical family and started out playing ukulele at 5 years old, before picking up the mandolin, banjo, and guitar.
