Gregg Allman, the soulful singer-songwriter and rock n' blues pioneer who founded The Allman Brothers Band with his late brother, Duane, and composed such classics as "Midnight Rider," "Melissa" and the epic concert jam "Whipping Post," has died at age 69, Billboard has learned. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1999 and underwent a liver transplant in 2010.He and his older brother, Duane, both died too young. Greg was only 69 when he passed away today. Duane, one of the greatest-rock-blues guitarists ever, was much younger, obviously, when he died in a motorcycle accident in 1971.
With his long blond hair, cool facade and songs that chronicled restless, wounded lives, Allman came to personify the sexy, hard-living rock outlaw in a life marked by musical triumph and calamitous loss.
I used to be the roadie, soundman and backup singer in a blues band in Florida, and everybody in the band worshiped both Greg and Duane. Three of the five members of that band are dead now, as well. Not sure if that lifestyle comes with the blues-rock territory, but I see parallels. I miss them all.
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