Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit “Ramblin’ Man,” has died. He is 80 years old.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died at his home in Osprey, Florida. David Spero, Betts’ manager for 20 years, confirmed Betts’ death and said Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year. He also suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Spero said.

“He died peacefully, surrounded by his entire family. They don’t believe he was in any pain,” Spero said by phone.

Bates shared lead guitar with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band, helping to give the band a unique sound and create a new genre – Southern rock. Bands from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B and jazz with ’60s rock.

Formed in 1969, the Allmans were an avant-garde jam band that trampled on the conventional notion of the three-minute pop song by playing lengthy compositions in concerts and on records. The band is also known as a mixed-race band from the Deep South.

In 1971, Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident, and a year later, founder Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident. This led to Bates and Allman’s brother Greg becoming the band’s leaders, but they often clashed and substance abuse led to further dysfunction. The band broke up at least twice before reforming and has had more than a dozen lineups.

The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Bates left the band permanently in 2000 and went solo with his own band, Great Southern, which included his band son, guitarist Duane Bates.

Forrest Richard Betts was born on December 12, 1943, and grew up in the Bradenton, Florida area, near the number 41 he sang about in the song “Ramblin’ Man” highway. His family has lived in the area since the mid-19th century.

Bates grew up listening to country, bluegrass and western swing and also played the ukulele and banjo before focusing on the electric guitar because it impressed girls. At 16, he left home and went on his first road trip, joining a circus and playing in a band.

He returned home and joined a band with bassist Oakley that later became the Jacksonville, Florida band Second Coming. One night in 1969, Bates and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a successful session musician, and his brother, and together they formed the Allman Brothers Band Brothers Band).

The band moved to Macon, Georgia, and released their self-titled debut album in 1969.

Now considered one of the greatest live albums of the classic rock era, the 1971 double album At Fillmore East was the Allman Band’s commercial breakthrough and served as a showcase for the unique guitar interplay between Allman and Betts. cementing their acting reputation.

The band also has two drummers – “Jaimoe” Johanson and Butch Trucks.

Four days after “The Fillmore” was certified gold, Duane Allman died, but the band moved on and audience numbers continued to grow. The 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” rose to No. 1 on the charts, with “Ramblin’ Man,” featuring Betts on vocals, taking the twang into the Top 40.

Bates also wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s other most popular songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years, the band continued to tour successfully with Bates and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks passed away in 2017.

After leaving Allman for good, Betts continued to play with his own team and lived in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna.