Legendary Guitarist and Allman Brothers Co-founder Dickey Betts Dies at 80

Legendary guitarist and Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts died. The 80-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died at his home in Osprey, Florida, David Spero, Mr. Bett’s manager of 20 years, confirmed on Thursday. “He was surrounded by his whole family, and he passed peacefully,” Mr. Spero said. “They didn’t think he was in any pain.” Mr. Betts, who wrote the band’s biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man, had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and battled cancer for over a year before his death. Mr. Betts, who shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band, helped create the group’s distinctive sound and a new genre known as Southern Rock, which melds the blues, country, R&B, and jazz with 1960s’ rock. The group influenced a number of acts that followed their style, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Jason Isbell, and Phish, among many others....