Gregg Allman passed away Saturday at the age of 69. The singer, keyboardist, guitarist, and songwriter is best known for his work with the Allman Brothers Band.
The band was originally formed by Allman and his brother, Duane. The heart and soul of the band, Duane, died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24 in 1971. The following year, bassist Berry Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle accident nearly 100 yards away from the very spot of Duane's crash. Oakley was also 24 at the time of his death. Despite the setbacks and emotional struggles, the band rebounded in 1973 with their biggest commercial success, Brothers and Sisters.
Turmoil returned in 1975 when Allman was forced to testify against his road manager, Scooter Herring, who was accused of purchasing drugs from the Dixie Mafia. The band felt that Allman betrayed them and it ultimately lead to the breakup of the band. Later that year, Allman started his solo career, releasing Laid Back. It was a critically acclaimed album with material that was unexpected, including a cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days."
Allman was married to pop star Cher from 1975 to 1978. During their short time together, the couple had a son, Elijah Blue Allman, and released a collaborative album Two the Hard Way, which was a major failure.
The band regrouped in 1978 only to split up again in 1982. Allman reached the peak of his solo career with the hit single "I'm No Angel" in 1987. The Allman Brothers reunited for the third and final time in 1989, celebrating their 25th anniversary. They would continue to perform until 2014.
Allman remained busy in his final years, releasing the solo album, Low Country Blues, in 2011 and an autobiography, My Cross the Bear, in 2012. His final solo album, Sothern Blood, is set to be released this year.
Although Allman had his struggles with drugs and alcohol for most of his life, he is a southern rock pioneer who won several Grammy's, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and made the Rolling Stone list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time."
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