Happy Birthday, Duane Allman (Nov 20, 1946)!

(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi WA Friends!

Are you getting a little sick of all the technical crap I've been posting lately? Lol 😎

If you're a music lover, here's something I think you might enjoy!

A Little History

Duane Allman

Duane Allman was born on November 20, 1946, in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, with his younger brother, Gregg Allman. Both of them loved music, and in 1965, they formed a band called the Allman Joys, which later turned into a group called Hour Glass. Hour Glass recorded two albums, but they weren't very successful.

Duane's talent was so impressive that he caught the attention of Rick Hall, the owner of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Duane became a highly in-demand session musician there. He played for famous artists like Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and King Curtis, which really showed off his versatility and talent. During this early session work, Duane used a 1954 Fender Stratocaster, which is now displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in London.

In 1969, Duane and Gregg formed the Allman Brothers Band. They mixed blues, rock, jazz, and country to create a unique sound that became the definition of Southern rock. Their live shows were legendary, with Duane's skills and passion standing out every time.

Sadly, Duane's life ended far too soon! On October 29, 1971, he died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, at just 24 years old. Even though his career was short, his impact on music was huge. He continues to inspire musicians and fans all around the world.

In high school, I devoured the album "Allman Brothers, At Fillmore East!"

Allman Bothers - At Fillmore East (1971)

Equipment Used

(Courtesy of me and ChatGPT - for all you WA Gearheads! lol ⚙️)

Guitars:

• 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop: This was Duane's main guitar during the early years of the Allman Brothers Band. It had PAF pickups and was used on their first album and during the famous "Layla" sessions with Derek and the Dominos.
• 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Cherry Burst: Duane got this guitar in 1970, and it became his main instrument. He used it during the "At Fillmore East" live recordings.
• 1961 Gibson SG/Les Paul Standard: Duane used this guitar for slide playing, and it helped create his signature sound.
• 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior: This was Duane's first electric guitar, and he used it a lot in his early career.
• 1954 Fender Stratocaster: Duane used this guitar during his early session work, which overlapped with the formation of the Allman Brothers Band.
• 1958–1962 Gibson ES-345 Semi-Hollow Body: Used on the first Allman Brothers Band album.
• 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard Tobacco Sunburst: Acquired in June 1971.
• 1961 Gibson SG: Given by Dickey Betts, used by Duane for slide playing.
• Gibson L-00 Acoustic Guitar.

Amplifiers:

• Marshall 50-Watt Bass Heads: Duane used these amps with 4x12 cabinets to create his powerful and expressive sound.
• Fender Showman: He used this amp during his early session work and Allman Brothers performances for a clean and strong sound.
• Fender Champ: Duane used this amp during the "Layla" sessions for a special tonal quality that worked well with his slide playing.
• Fender Twin Reverb with JBL Speakers.
• Marshall 50-Watt Head and Two Marshall 4x12 Cabinets with JBL Speakers.
• 1959 Fender Bassman.
• Marshall Amplifier with Six 10-Inch Speakers and Two Horns.

Effects:

• Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face: Duane's favorite effect pedal, mostly used in session work for sustain and distortion.
• Maestro Echoplex: An analog delay unit used by Duane to add echo and depth to his guitar sound.
• Coricidin Medicine Bottle: Used as a guitar slide.

Honors and Awards

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction (1995): Duane was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Allman Brothers Band after his death, recognizing his huge impact on rock music.
• Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time: He is consistently ranked as one of the best guitarists, showing just how influential and talented he was.
• Guitar Player Magazine's Greatest Guitar Tone: Duane is celebrated for having one of the greatest guitar tones ever, especially noted for his work with a Gibson Les Paul and Marshall amps.

Discography

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

With the Allman Brothers Band:

• The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
• Idlewild South (1970)
• At Fillmore East (1971): This was their most popular album, loved for its live performances and amazing improvisation.
• Eat a Peach (1972): This album includes tracks recorded before Duane passed away.

With Derek and the Dominos:

• Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970): Duane worked with Eric Clapton on this album, which includes the famous song "Layla." "The word "Derek" came from the combination of Duane and Eric. Lol 😎

Session Work Highlights:

• Wilson Pickett – "Hey Jude" (1969)
• Aretha Franklin – "The Weight" (1969)
• Boz Scaggs – "Loan Me a Dime" (1969)

How We're Celebrating Duane's Birthday

In the late afternoon, we're having a little party in memory of Duane! We'll be having some family and friends over for some good food and drink while we watch all three hours of the DVD (parts 1 and 2) of the "Allman Brothers, Live at the Beacon Theatre." It was recorded in New York City on March 10 and 11, 1992.

Here is the track listing:

DVD 1:

• "Statesboro Blues" (Blind Willie McTell) – 7:01
• "You Don't Love Me" (Willie Cobbs) – 6:38
• "End of the Line" (Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Allen Woody, John Jaworowicz) – 5:45
• "Blue Sky" (Dickey Betts) – 7:34
• "Nobody Knows" (Dickey Betts) – 13:20
• "Low Down Dirty Mean" (Dickey Betts, Johnny Neel) – 7:20
• "Seven Turns" (Dickey Betts) – 4:41
• "Midnight Rider" (Gregg Allman, Robert Payne) – 3:20
• "Come On in My Kitchen" (Robert Johnson) – 6:02

DVD 2:

• Guitar intro / "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Willie Dixon) – 10:01
• "Jessica" (Dickey Betts) – 10:01
• "Get On With Your Life" (Gregg Allman) – 8:18
• "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Dickey Betts) – 20:57
• "Revival" (Dickey Betts) – 5:45
• "Dreams" (Gregg Allman) – 11:20
• "Whipping Post" (Gregg Allman) – 11:36

Tell Me What You Think!

Do you like the Allman Brothers Band?

Have you seen them in concert? Luckily, I've had the privilege and honor of seeing them four times at various arenas and at festivals!

Let me know in the comments, AND ...

Keep On Rockin' It! 🤘

(Pin by DALL-E 3)

Frank 🎸

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