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Gregory LeNoir Allman was born in 1947 in Tennessee and he with his brother Duane were the infamous southern, blues, country rock The Allman Brothers Band. Gregg Allman, after many years of struggle against cancer and other health issues, passed away on May 27th. Earlier this year, on January 24th Butch Trucks, one of the main members of this legendary band passed away after committing suicide at the age of 69 as well.

Gregg’s long time manager and close friend, Michael Lehman said, “I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a brilliant pioneer in music. He was a kind and gentle soul with the best laugh I ever heard. His love for his family and bandmates was passionate as was the love he had for his extraordinary fans. Gregg was an incredible partner and an even better friend. We will all miss him.

The Allman Brothers Band are the pioneers of southern rock, paving the way for bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and Wet Willie. Their success, with songs like ‘Whipping Post‘ and ‘Ramblin’ Man‘ made Capricorn Records a major label.

Gregg during the time of The Allman Brothers Band and after their disbandment in 1976, pursued a solo career as The Gregg Allman Band, releasing two albums ‘I’m No Angel‘ (1987, Epic) and ‘Just Before The Bullets Fly‘ (1988, Epic), and a live album ‘Gregg Allman Live: Back To Macon‘ (2015).

In his biography “My Cross To Bear” published in 2012, Gregg Allman comments: “Music is my life’s blood. I love music, I love to play good music, and I love to play music for people who appreciate it. And when it’s all said and done, I’ll go to my grave and my brother will greet me, saying, “Nice work, little brother- you did all right”. I must have said this a million times, but if I died today, I have had me a blast.”

Mary Kalaitzidou