Dickey Betts shaped the Allman Brothers as much as Gregg and Duane Allman.
Betts and Duane's dueling guitars gave the Allmans a signature sound, their long melodic reveries shifting from perfect harmonic convergence to call and response flights.
After Duane's death in a motorcycle accident, Betts took the Allmans on a new direction with his 1972 hit "Rambling Man," a vibrant echo of country traditions from Hank Williams to Robert Johnson. His mellow voice and imaginative guitar work on his song "Blue Sky" showcased his star talent on the band's post-Duane album "Eat a Peach."
Betts, who emerged from the Allmans' shadow to receive recognition as a major progenitor of Southern rock, died Thursday morning at age 80 at his home in Osprey, Fla. He'd suffered from cancer and pulmonary disease.
His music with the Allmans rang from dorm rooms, college bars and local bands' garages. His songs were instantly recognizable anthems inviting listeners to sing along.
Often feuding with Gregg Allman, Betts persevered with the band, and embarked upon a successful solo career.
His soaring guitar solos and country-resonant singing expressed a distinctive joy, evoking the open road, Southern roadhouses and stories told on summer nights.
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