Dickey Betts has died aged 80 (Picture: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Dickey Betts, the singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band and Southern rock legend, has died at the age of 80.
His family confirmed ‘with heavy hearts’ that the Ramblin’ Man hitmaker passed away in his Florida home on Thursday ‘surrounded’ by loved ones.
They described Betts – real name Richard Betts – as being ‘larger than life’ and the family’s ‘patriarch’.
A statement came via Betts’ Instagram, which read: ‘It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard ‘Dickey’ Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old.
‘The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away earlier today at his home in Osprey, FL., surrounded by his family.
‘Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide.
Betts died of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Picture: Kirk West/Getty Images)
‘At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.’
Betts’ manager confirmed to Rolling Stone he died of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Betts’ musical career began when he picked up a ukulele at the age of four, and he went on to form a band as a teenager, earning a living as a painter and post carrier.
His character was immortalised in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, as Stillwater guitarist Russell Hammond – played by Billy Crudup. The director later said this character was a ‘tribute’ to Betts.
In the mid-1960s, Betts was recruited by a member of a band called Jokers, who were impressed on hearing him play, and he went on to tour with them before he formed band the Second Coming with bassist Berry Oakley.
Duane Allman met the duo and asked them to join Allman Brothers Band in 1969, alongside his brother Gregg, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe Johanson.
Originally, Betts was drafted in as a guitarist, but two years after Allman Brothers Band formed lead singer Duane died in a motorbike accident aged 24, and Betts became defacto lead guitarist and frontman.
Though he was said to be uncomfortable with this role, Betts proved himself a skilled songwriter and vocalist, as he wrote and sang the band’s greatest hit, Ramblin’ Man.
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