Gregg Allman has died, Billboard reports. The news was confirmed with a note on Allman’s website. The singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the Allman Brothers Band, who had a prolific solo career of his own, was 69. Allman had a serious of health troubles in recent years. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007 and had a liver transplant in 2010. The rocker cancelled a series of 2016 shows so that he could take time off from touring to “focus on his health.” A planned 2017 tour was also scrapped due to “serious health issues.” A cause of death is currently unknown.
Allman was born in Nashville in 1947. After playing in a variety of bands with his brother Duane, they co-founded the Allman Brothers Band in 1969. Their debut self-titled album came out that year. In 1971, they released their live album At Fillmore East, which was a critical and commercial success. About three months after that album’s release, Duane died in a motorcycle crash at age 24. Following his brother’s death, Gregg continued performing with a rotating cast of musicians in the Allman Brothers Band. Their next album, 1972’s Eat a Peach, featured posthumously released recordings by Duane. The Allman Brothers Band split in 1976, but would reunite off-and-on throughout the years. They played their last show in 2014.
Gregg launched his solo recording career with 1973’s Laid Back; his most recent album was 2011’s Low Country Blues. In 1975, he married Cher. They had a son together and made the 1977 album Two the Hard Way before divorcing in 1978. Allman struggled with drug and alcohol abuse throughout his life; he once said that he’d gone to rehab 17 different times. His memoir My Cross to Bear was released in 2012.
via Evan Minsker
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