Gregg’s lyrics come from his life of trials, failures, accomplishments—the whole thing.
Happy birthday to the Midnight Rider, Gregg Allman
Greetings from the Crossroads! I’ve just returned home from Nashville after 6 days on the road, the first 3 in New Mexico for history museum work1, the latter in Florida to attend the Orange Blossom Revue on the shores of Lake Wales.
It was a wonderful visit packed with full-circle moments that I’ll share when I can put my thoughts together. It was a weekend in the warm embrace of family and friends.2 My cup overflows.
Gregg Allman would’ve turned 78 today. Born December 8, 1947, he was a little more than a year younger than Duane, forever “baybrah.”
He was also the last to join the Allman Brothers Band, which he fronted for 43 years after Duane’s death.
Gregg was one of rock’s great survivors who Gregg faced alcoholism, drug addiction, federal investigation, and tabloid celebrity as he carried on after his brother died. In 2010, he had a liver transplant, and he lived until May 2017, six months shy of his seventieth birthday.
Duane built the band, then called Gregg in to complete the lineup. Everyone knew from the moment he sang “Trouble No More,” that the group was complete. Here’s a digital exhibit of images and quotes about Gregory Lenoir Allman.
Gregg’s thoughts
“As a kid, I always thought an entertainer or a musician would have no bad days. How could they? They’re entertainers. They have fun for a living. Well, baby, I’m here to tell you they do have bad days. But it ain’t nothing I won’t feel better about when I’m up on stage tonight.”
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