Berry Oakley

Berry Oakley
Background information
Birth name	Raymond Berry Oakley, III
Born	April 4, 1948(1948-04-04) Chicago, Illinois
Died	November 11, 1972(1972-11-11) (aged 24) Macon, Georgia
Genres	Rock, southern rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Bass guitar, vocals
Years active	1964–1972
Associated acts	The Allman Brothers Band
Notable instruments
Fender Jazz Bass

Raymond Berry Oakley III (April 4, 1948 – November 11, 1972), was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.

Biography

Oakley was born in Chicago, Illinois, raised in the suburb of Park Forest, Illinois, then moved to Florida where he met and joined Dickey Betts's band, The Second Coming. He was a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1969, along with guitarist Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, who was the band's vocalist and keyboardist, Dickey Betts on second guitar, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson, both on drums, congas, and the band's percussionist.

With the Allman Brothers, Oakley was known for his long, melodic bass runs underneath Allman and Betts' furious guitar solos and jams. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and "Whipping Post" from the live album At Fillmore East capture Oakley at his best. Oakley was also the band member most involved in establishing domestic unity among the band's extended family. When Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident, Oakley became devastated, according to drummer Butch Trucks. The band continued touring. But Oakley "lost his sparkle" and started drinking heavily during what was to become his last year in life.

Equipment

Oakley's bass guitar, nicknamed "The Tractor Bass", was a Fender Jazz Bass with a Guild bass pickup (manufactured by Hagström, a Swedish company).

Death and tribute

On November 11, 1972, Oakley was involved in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, just three blocks from where Duane Allman had his fatal motorcycle accident the year before. Oakley was driving around a sharp right bend of the road on Napier Avenue at Inverness when he crossed the line and collided at an angle twice with a city bus making the bend from the opposite direction. After striking the front and then the back of the bus, Oakley was thrown from his bike, just as Allman had been, and struck his head. Oakley said he was okay after the accident, declined medical treatment, and caught a ride home. Three hours later, he was rushed to the hospital, delirious and in pain, and died of cerebral swelling caused by a fractured skull. Attending doctors stated that even if Oakley had gone straight to the hospital from the scene of the accident, he could not have been saved. Later ABB bassists include Allen Woody and Oteil Burbridge.

In 1998, the Georgia state legislature passed a resolution designating a bridge on State Highway 19, in Macon, Georgia, as the 'Raymond Berry Oakley III Bridge' in "honor and remembrance" of the late founding member of the Allman Brothers Band".

Family

His son, Berry Duane Oakley (aka Berry Oakley Jr.) is also a bass guitarist, and he has performed with groups such as Bloodline, OKB and Blue Floyd. He now tours with The Chuck Negron Band, former vocalist for Three Dog Night.

Daughter,Brittany,whose mother is Linda. She resided with Barry at the time of his death in Macon,Ga.

External links

• The Hoochie Coochie Man - John Ogden
• Georgia House of Representatives SR653, designating Duane Allman Boulevard and Raymond Berry Oakley Bridge
• Account of the fatal accident