Dickey
Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, has one of the most
distinctive voices in music today. Known as one of the most influential
guitar players of all time, Betts has mastered a seamless style of lyrical
melody and rhythm -- marrying country, jazz, blues, and rock into one unparalleled
sound. The New York Times has called Betts "one of the great rock guitarists�[who
thinks like a jazz improviser, in thoughtfully structured, cleanly articulated,
intelligently paced phrases�[when] Mr. Betts was tearing into one of
his improvisations, the music was about as exciting as rock and roll gets."
Playing
since he can remember, Betts joined several bands in the sixties and eventually
formed a band with bassist Berry Oakley. One fateful night in 1969, Betts
and Oakley's band jammed with another local group featuring Duane and
Gregg Allman, marking the birth of the Allman Brothers Band.
In
addition to matching band leader Duane Allman lick for lick, Betts also
wrote such memorable songs as "Revival" and the instrumental
tour de force "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." After Duane Allman
and Berry Oakley were killed in accidents a year apart in 1971 and 1972,
the ABB worked through their sorrow, with Betts writing and singing the
group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man".
A
year after the ABB celebrated their 30th anniversary, Betts formed the
Dickey Betts Band and hit the road on his own. His guitar sound is still
immediately recognizable, with soaring leads providing musical wings,
and his road-seasoned vocals reflecting grit and hard-earned respect.
The group released their first C.D.,"Let's Get Together" in
June, 2001. Dickey changed the name of the group to Dickey Betts &
Great Southern in January, 2002. Dickey Betts & Great Southern plan
to record an acoustic C.D. and tour most of 2002.
