Former Allman Brothers Band Members Honor Dickey Betts In Macon

Late The Allman Brothers Band co-founding guitarist Dickey Betts was honored with an exceptional tribute concert on Friday night at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia. Duane Betts curated “In Memory Of Dickey Betts,” which featured appearances from several of Dickey’s friends and former bandmates.

Dickey Betts died on April 18, 2024 at 80. Duane prepped a setlist for the sold-out tribute concert that consisted of material from various eras of his father’s career, including many of his most beloved songs.

The core band for the first set saw guitarist/vocalist Duane Betts joined by bassist Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers, Dead & Company), guitarist Johnny Stachela (Allman Betts Band), keyboardists Mike Kach (Dickey Betts Band) and John Ginty (Allman Betts Band), drummer Tyler Greenwell (Tedeschi Trucks Band) and percussion players Frankie Lombardi (Dickey Betts Band) and Mark Greenberg (Dickey Betts Band). Duane and the core band tore through the ABB instrumental “Hot ‘Lanta” before vocalist Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie) led the ensemble through “Statesboro Blues” and “Nothing You Can Do” to complete the same opening sequence Dickey Betts pulled off at his last Macon concert on May 17, 2018.

The celebration of Dickey Betts’ life and legacy continued with Blackberry Smoke guitarist Charlie Starr stepping into the spotlight for “Long Time Gone” from Betts’ 1974 LP Highway Call and ABB staple “Southbound.” Next, Devon Allman — the son of Gregg Allman and Duane’s Allman Betts Band co-leader — channeled his father on “Melissa” and sang Dickey’s “Nobody Knows.” Friday’s first set concluded with a righteous version of the Allman Brothers instrumental “Jessica” featuring stellar soos from Duane Betts and legendary keyboardist and ’70s member of the ABB Chuck Leavell.

David Spero, Dickey’s longtime manager, and Berklee School of Music’s Davis Wimberly addressed the crowd before the second set and discussed the founding of a scholorship in Betts’ name. Furthermore, Macon mayor Lester Miller read a proclamation declared February 28, 2025 as “Dickey Betts Day” in the area. Multiple video tributes to Dickey Betts aired during the setbreak from the likes of Slash, Lukas and Willie Nelson and Bob Weir.

Susan Tedeschi and her husband and co-Tedeschi Trucks Band leader guitarist Derek Trucks made their first appearance of the night on a version of Dickey’s “Pony Boy” that started the second set and saw them accompanied by Duane Betts, Chuck Leavell, Tyler Greenwell and bassist Pedro Arevalo. Hall then led the core band, Leavell and vocalist Mattie Schell on late-era Allmans favorite “No One To Run With.” More Dickey-penned gems followed in “Rain” and “Seven Turns.”

Longtime Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes came out for the subsequent “Back Where It All Begins,” which featured Duane Betts on lead vocals. Haynes then fronted “Soulshine” ahead of a memorable “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” featuring fellow ABB alums Derek, Oteil and Chuck.

Next, Susan returned for the Tedeschi Trucks Band staple “Midnight In Harlem” and the Dickey-penned classic “Blue Sky.” Vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. then joined the fray for a set-closing “Revival.” All of the evening’s performers went on to contribute to the “Ramblin’ Man” encore.

Listen to Z-Man’s audience recording and watch fan-shot video from “In Memory Of Dickey Betts” below: