Happy Birthday Butch Trucks: Allman Brothers Celebrate Grammy Win On ‘Late Show’ In 1996

Claude Hudson Trucks, or Butch as he came to be known, was born 70 years ago today in Jacksonville, Florida. While the co-founding member of the Allman Brothers Band should be celebrating his 70th birthday today he tragically took his life back in January. Butch was so vital to the ABB sound as he powered their music with a drumming style that has been aptly compared to that of a freight train. Nearly five months later it is still hard to comprehend Trucks is gone.

In honor of Butch’s birthday, let’s look back at a triumphant moment in the drummer’s career. Back in 1996 the Allman Brothers Band took home a Grammy award for Best Instrumental Performance thanks to the version of “Jessica” off An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band: Second Set. The following evening Butch and the rest of the group headed to the Ed Sullivan Theater to perform on The Late Show With David Letterman. Paul Shaffer sat-in with the group and we love that the Grammy award itself is proudly displayed on Gregg Allman’s Hammond B-3 organ.

Watch the short but sweet “Jessica” from 1996: