We’re sad to pass along news that Butch Trucks has died. Organizers of the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival, where Trucks was supposed to perform in May, posted news of Butch’s passing on Facebook.
“We are shocked and sad to report that Butch Trucks, one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers, has passed away at the age of 69. We will repost the official press release when we get it. Sorry to be the bearer of such sad news,” reads the note. Family members including Lee Trucks and friends have also posted about the drummer’s death on social media, but an official statement has yet to be made.
Born Claude Hudson Trucks in Jacksonville, Florida on May 11, 1947, Butch played in a number of local bands including The Vikings and The 31st Of February before teaming up with Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley and Jaimoe to form The Allman Brothers Band in 1969. The group quickly found success as a live act and helped establish the genre of Southern Rock.
Trucks and Jaimoe were the powerful dual drumming force behind the group. Butch was a staple of the band through its final show in 2014 as the Allmans continued through the deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley and multiple breakups. The Allman Brothers Band were also a commercial success after Duane passed as they scored hit records with Eat A Peach in 1972 and Brothers & Sisters in 1973. Trucks was joined by his nephew Derek, Gregg Allman, Jaimoe, Oteil Burbridge, Warren Haynes and Marc Quinones in the last and longest lasting Allman Brothers Band lineup.
The news is a shock as Trucks had been performing regularly with two projects as of late: Butch Trucks & The Freight Train Band and Les Brers. Butch Trucks was 69. Our thoughts are with the Trucks family and Butch’s friends.
